Volunteer role description
SECTION ADVISER
Would you like to support volunteers in your community to get the most out of the opportunities at
Girlguiding and everything it has to offer? Becoming a Girlguiding Section adviser could be for you!
Role title/Alternative title: ..................................................................................................
Specialism: ................................................................................................................................
Supported by: ...........................................................................................................................
Suggested time commitment: ..............................................................................................
Length of time in role: ..........................................................................................................
Location: ....................................................................................................................................
If you are interested in this role: .......................................................................................
Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. Thanks to the dedication and
support of 100,000 amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young
women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life
skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities.
Our incredible volunteers contribute more than ten million hours to guiding every year. Some give
us a couple of hours here and there – helping out with driving for trips and holidays, fundraising and
events planning, or even doing the annual accounts for local groups. Others give their time as leaders
or Assistant leaders for units, providing girls and young women with a space where they can be
themselves. Whatever your skills and interests, and no matter how much time you have to spare,
one of our volunteering roles is bound to suit you.
‘As well as giving the girls amazing opportunities, I feel I’ve also
personally beneted from volunteering. It’s really rewarding for me
and I feel I’ve achieved something great.’
Lisa, Girlguiding volunteer
Caring
Challenging
Inspiring Inclusive
Fun
Empowering
© Girlguiding 2019 www.girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer
role description
Section adviser
1
SECTION ADVISER
Level: division/county/country/region
This role description covers Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger advisers.
Who can do this role?
Section advisers are women over 18 years old. They should already be, or be willing to become,
a member of Girlguiding.
Do I need a quali ication?
You don’t need a specific qualification to become an adviser and you will be provided with training on a
particular subject depending on your specialism.
What is the purpose of this role?
An Adviser is a specialist in a particular field of the guiding programme. An adviser will advise, motivate
and communicate information about the specialism to the division, county or country/region team and
other guiding members, giving more girls and volunteers ways to access opportunities for development,
challenge and adventure.
Advisers are often responsible for helping to create opportunities for events and take an active part in
the wider team. As an adviser, you will attend meetings and have regular contact with other advisers,
teams at other levels and leaders.
Section advisers are experts on a particular part of the Girlguiding programme: this can relate to a
specific section (Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Ranger) or a particular award or special event. You will be
responsible for giving support to leaders in your local area by keeping up to date with all aspects of
your area of expertise including changes to programme, new initiatives and opportunities for members
to get involved.
What will I do in the role?
The list below outlines the general responsibilities of a Section adviser, but you will be working within a
wider team and responsibilities may vary with the different adviser specialisms.
General
zz Provide ongoing support to the country/region, county or division by giving advice and answering
specic queries, often by email.
zz Demonstrate a working knowledge of and enthusiasm for your specialism.
zz Become an expert in your specialism, use your knowledge to solve problems and promote the
advantages of your area of the guiding programme.
zz Support leaders to provide a safe girl-only space where girls and young women can discover their
full potential through all areas of the programme.
zz Attend level-specic meetings and events as appropriate.
zz Administer any applicable training or qualications in your area of responsibility.
zz Keep up to date with new resources and programme initiatives, and use and cascade information as
appropriate, communicating to all relevant stakeholders.
zz Complete relevant training for the role and ensure the wider team’s skills are up to date.
zz Manage a local budget, liaising with the level treasurer and commissioner as necessary.
zz Provide up-to-date, creative programme ideas and resources and distribute these to members in the
local area.
zz Support trainers and the trainer coordinator with the induction of any new parts of the programme
related to your section, reviewing training modules if required.
zz Support the Leadership qualification coordinator and those completing their Leadership qualification
to review training books related to your section, and assist with specic mentoring if necessary.
zz Visit units in the local area to promote events and opportunities.
© Girlguiding 2019 www.girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer role description
Section adviser
2
Being part of your local guiding area
zz Be part of a local Girlguiding community, by attending local team meetings and maintaining a good
relationship with other volunteers.
zz Develop and maintain clear communications with the local commissioner and relevant
advisers/coordinators.
zz Maintain clear channels of communication with other members within your designated area.
zz Promote local, national and international opportunities available within guiding as well as externally,
and encourage young members to take part.
zz Promote and encourage members to engage in different development opportunities available within
your area of specialism.
Being part of Girlguiding
zz
Be committed to undertaking relevant training.
zz Learn about the structure of Girlguiding and how your responsibilities and position t within it.
zz Be willing to learn about Girlguiding’s national and local strategic aims and how these are being
delivered locally.
zz Learn about Girlguiding’s policies and Code of Conduct.
zz Be an ambassador for the values of Girlguiding.
Promoting Girlguiding
zz Represent the division, county or country/region at events where possible.
zz Promote a positive image of Girlguiding at public events.
zz Familiarise yourself with Girlguiding’s key messages and promote these in your
external communications.
What will Girlguiding do for me?
zz
Provide a thorough and appropriate induction to the role and organisation.
zz Help to develop skills and abilities to perform the role by providing relevant training opportunities
(including e-learning where possible).
zz Provide guidance via The Guiding Manual.
zz Provide support and development from fellow volunteers, including a local commissioner.
zz Host meetings and events to share information at a local level.
zz Reimburse agreed expenses (agreed locally and may differ around the UK).
zz Provide references.
zz Provide a clear complaints procedure and support to resolve problems or disagreements.
Am I right for the role?
Girlguiding advisers and coordinators provide essential support to help members get the most out of
the Girlguiding programme and promote our activities. While we can offer you training and support we
would expect you to possess the personal qualities outlined below.
Personal qualities
zz An open and approachable manner.
zz Reliable and trustworthy.
zz Creative and enthusiastic.
zz A commitment to ongoing personal development.
© Girlguiding 2019 www.girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer role description
Section adviser
3
Skills and abilities
While these skills and abilities are not essential when starting, they should be developed as part of
the role.
zz Ability to work as part of a team.
zz Excellent communication skills.
zz Desire to motivate and inspire girls and young women from a broad range of backgrounds.
zz Ability to motivate and inspire adult volunteers.
Girlguiding welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, ages, cultures, faiths and abilities. We are exible,
and volunteering can be arranged to t around a busy lifestyle.
Please note this is a volunteer role; this role description does not form part of any contract
of employment.
© Girlguiding 2019 www.girlguiding.org.uk Volunteer role description
Section adviser
4