Girls' Brigade England and Wales

What Girls' Brigade England and Wales does

Girls' Brigade England and Wales (legally 'The Girls' Brigade England & Wales', operating as Girls' Brigade Ministries) is a registered charity (no. 206655) and company limited by guarantee (no. 00206877) headquartered at Cliff College, Calver, Hope Valley, Derbyshire. Founded in 1893 and formed through the 1965 merger of Girls' Brigade Ireland, the Girls' Guildry and the Girls' Life Brigade, the organisation delivers weekly community groups for girls and young women aged 4-18 through four age-banded programmes: n:vestigate (4-8), n:gage (7-11), n:counta (10-14) and n:spire (13-18), with extensions to 18-30s women through The Esther Collective. Delivery is operated via a franchise-style model with approximately 450 local church partners that host groups, appoint volunteer leaders, and provide meeting space, supported by a national Support Centre of 11 paid staff and roughly 2,000-2,500 volunteers across the UK serving approximately 9,000 participants.

The organisation's core 'technology' is operational rather than software-driven: it relies on the GB Manager membership database, Eventbrite for training bookings, JustGiving and PayPal for donations, and a Programme Hub hosting 40+ downloadable resources. It generates revenue from four streams: local group membership subscriptions (~54% of budget), donations and Gift Aid (~46%), GB Trading online uniform sales, and a small portfolio of paid services including school assemblies (£175 + travel), volunteer training (e.g. n:fluence 18+ at £15 per person), and the ARMs alumni scheme (£30/year recommended donation). Additional revenue-adjacent activities include Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Queen's Award programmes, FIZZ international mission trips through GB Europe, and women's retreats delivered in partnership with Cliff College.

The go-to-market combines community-led church partnerships, direct-to-consumer group enquiry through a website finder tool, and event-driven engagement through three annual national conferences and regular retreats. Channels span organic social media, the koko content platform for teenagers, e-newsletters, school assembly delivery, and word-of-mouth through volunteer and alumni networks. The organisation is governed by a trustee board under CEO Judith Davey-Cole and is independent of any parent or holding entity.

Name

Girls' Brigade England and Wales

Legal name

The Girls' Brigade England & Wales

Website

https://girlsbrigadeministries.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Girls' Brigade England and Wales is a registered charity operating approximately 450 church-hosted weekly community groups for girls and young women aged 4-18 across England and Wales, supported by ~2,500 volunteers and 11 paid staff, with extensions into young adult women and a podcast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Youth ministry services
• Community youth groups
• Girls youth programs
• Christian youth work
• Youth development charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Calver, Hope Valley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Local GB groups charge weekly, monthly or termly subscription fees to members to cover activity costs and annual membership fees to GB Support Centre. Each group sets its own rates.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Accepts regular monthly donations and one-off gifts via JustGiving, PayPal, and Stewardship. Receives Gift Aid on eligible donations. Legacy giving through wills also encouraged.
3. GB Trading (Uniform Sales): Operates GB Trading online store (girlsbrigadetrading.com) selling uniform (turquoise polo shirts for members, purple for leaders), gifts, and resources. Order fulfilment managed by staff.
4. Programme Resources and Training: Generates some revenue through training fees (n:fluence 18+ training at £15 for 3 sessions) and training events. School assemblies charged at £175 plus travel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Girls' Brigade England and Wales operates a network of around 450 uniformed, church-based community groups across England and Wales for girls and young women aged 4 to 18. It delivers structured weekly programmes featuring Christian faith-based activities, badge awards, and leadership development, supported by trained adult volunteers and a small central staff team.

Product overview

Girls' Brigade England and Wales operates a unified portfolio of community group programs and support services for girls and women. The core offerings include age-specific weekly groups (n:vestigate for 4-8s, n:gage for 7-11s, n:counta for 10-14s, n:spire for 13-18s) and women's activities, supplemented by leadership training programs (n:fluence 14-18s and n:fluence 18+), the Esther Collective 18-30s community with its podcast, and Life to the Full safeguarding training. Additional services include Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Queen's Award achievement programs, school assemblies, women's retreats, national conferences, FIZZ mission trips, and the koko blog content platform. Operational infrastructure includes the GB Manager internal database, GB Trading e-commerce store for uniforms and resources, a Programme Hub with 40+ downloadable resources, and the ARMs alumni scheme. The organization partners with local churches to deliver groups and with external platforms like Eventbrite for training bookings and JustGiving/PayPal for donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Esther Collective: A growing online and face-to-face supportive community of 18-30s women, with an associated podcast launched on 15 February 2021.
• FIZZ Mission Trips
• koko

Products and services

• Community Brigade Groups Weekly local group meetings held in churches and community venues across England and Wales for girls and young women aged 4-18, combining Christian faith activities, life skills, badge work, games and social action.
• Brigader Awards Programme Progressive award and badge scheme recognising achievement across four key areas of development, available to all enrolled members across age groups (4-8, 8-11, 11-14, 14-18 plus Senior Section).
• Leadership Development Pipeline Training and development programme enabling older members to become peer leaders, young leaders, GB Plus participants, paid interns and ultimately volunteer leaders and trustees within the organisation.
• School Workshops and Assemblies Bookable workshops, assemblies and activity sessions for schools covering themes such as respect, relationships, identity, teamwork and aspiration, delivered by Girls' Brigade staff.
• Volunteer Training and Resources Training, DBS-supported safeguarding, programme materials and ongoing support provided to the network of around 2,500 adult volunteers who lead local groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Girls develop confidence, resilience, life skills and faith through weekly GB attendance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cliff CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership for women's retreat weekends held at Cliff College facilities in Derbyshire. GB retreat programmes including Come to the River are delivered at Cliff College location.
• Thorpe Hall SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the award-winning koko film 'Dare to Care' developed by GB's teenage resource platform.
• Girls on BoardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored koko film 'Dare to Care' aligned with Girls on Board's initiative exploring issues surrounding girl friendships in schools.
• Alzheimer's SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrently working with Alzheimer's Society on programme materials for GB community groups.
• GB EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGB Ministries is part of GB Europe which offers FIZZ mission trips. Starting in 2009, women from GB Europe have served on FIZZ mission teams in Kosova, Cambodia, Uganda, and South Africa.
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGB England & Wales is a Licensed Organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, enabling members aged 13-24 to achieve Bronze, Silver or Gold awards through completing volunteering, physical, skills and expedition sections.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Woodcraft Folk: UK-wide cooperative youth organisation running community groups for children and young people with progressive values. Competes for the same family and volunteer audience seeking structured weekly youth groups.
• Boys' Brigade: UK-wide Christian uniformed youth organisation for boys and young men, founded 1883. Operates the same church-franchise model with age-graded programmes, badges and awards, making it the closest direct peer to Girls' Brigade.

Broad incumbents

• UK Youth: National umbrella and support body for youth organisations in the UK, including faith-based members. Comparable mission of expanding youth provision and provides a network alternative for partner churches.
• Girlguiding UK: Largest girl-only youth organisation in the UK with Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Ranger sections. Secular but the dominant incumbent in the girls' youth group category where Girls' Brigade competes for members and volunteers.
• The Scout Association: Co-educational UK youth organisation with badge and award schemes (including DofE delivery). Competes for the same 4-18 age group, volunteers, and parental subscription spend as Girls' Brigade.

Emerging players

• Youth for Christ: Christian youth work charity operating school-based and community-based engagement programmes across the UK. Comparable faith-based youth outreach mission and overlapping volunteer/donor base with Girls' Brigade.
• Scripture Union: Christian charity delivering school-based and community-based Christian programmes, holidays and mission engagement for children and young people. Comparable faith-based youth formation model with shared DofE/church delivery channels.

Regional players

• Girlguiding Scotland: Scotland arm of Girlguiding, comparable uniformed youth group model for girls but operating in a geography where Girls' Brigade England & Wales does not run groups. Represents the principal cross-border competitor for the girls' youth market in Britain.
• Church Army: UK-based Anglican mission organisation running evangelism and community outreach projects including youth work. Comparable faith-driven delivery model but with broader missional remit beyond girls' youth groups.

Others

• Children's Society: National UK children's charity focused on vulnerable young people and faith-rooted youth work. Shares the faith-based charity donor and volunteer ecosystem and influences the same regulatory/safeguarding environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/girlsbrigadeew
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheGirlsBrigade
• Facebookfacebook.com/GirlsBrigadeEW
• Instagraminstagram.com/girlsbrigadeew
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/girls-brigade-ew

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Girls' Brigade England and Wales