GFS England & Wales

GFS England & Wales GFS is a movement for girls and young women that provides opportunities to develop confidence, self- Our values are informed by our Christian heritage.

Established in 1875, Girls Friendly Society (GFS) is one of the oldest UK registered charities working to support girls and young women. We are a membership organisation of women dedicated to supporting the development of girls and young women and the achievement of their equal rights and opportunities. Our mission is to provide opportunities for girls and young women to grow in confidence and sel

f-esteem, to develop their potential, to learn to value themselves and others and live as independent women. We endeavour to engage every girl, young women, parent, volunteer and member of staff with kindness, humility, respect, empathy and compassion. Our staff of 24 and national network of more than 130 volunteers deliver a variety of activities, services and support to girls and young women in a safe, single gender, non-judgmental environment throughout England and Wales.

What do girls in our community need? That's where every GFS group begins.It might mean pivoting plans to answer a girl's...
25/08/2026

What do girls in our community need? That's where every GFS group begins.

It might mean pivoting plans to answer a girl's difficult question. Or it could look like creating a new activity so the group can understand the world around them.

Our amazing volunteers listen, notice, and respond. In doing so, they create a place where girls are confident to speak up, be themselves, and get any extra support they might need.

The looks different for each group - from South West Wales* to North East England - but the approach stays the same: girl-led, locally-focused.

Read our latest blog for some great examples of what this looks like in GFS groups: https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk/listening-to-girls-focused-on-communities-how-gfs-groups-adapt-to-girls-needs/

*Our groups in Wales have been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and made possible by players.

Beth sydd ei angen ar ferched yn ein cymuned? Dyna lle mae pob grŵp GFS yn dechrau.

Gallai hyn olygu addasu cynlluniau i ateb cwestiwn anodd gan ferch. Neu gallai olygu creu gweithgaredd newydd fel y gall y grŵp ddeall y byd o'i gwmpas.

Mae ein gwirfoddolwyr anhygoel yn gwrando, yn sylwi ac yn ymateb. Wrth wneud hynny, maent yn creu lle i alluogi merched i fod yn hyderus i siarad yn agored, bod yn nhw eu hunain, a chael unrhyw gymorth ychwanegol y gallai fod ei angen arnynt.

Mae hyn yn wahanol i bob grŵp - o Dde-orllewin Cymru* i Ogledd-ddwyrain Lloegr - ond mae'r dull yn aros yr un peth: arwain gan ferched, gyda ffocws lleol.

Darllenwch ein blog diweddaraf i weld enghreifftiau gwych o sut mae hyn yn edrych mewn grwpiau GFS: https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk/listening-to-girls-focused-on-communities-how-gfs-groups-adapt-to-girls-needs/

*Mae ein grwpiau yng Nghymru wedi'u hariannu gan The National Lottery Community Fund ac yn bosibl oherwydd chwaraewyr y .

🚀 Looking for a career boost?Join us for a FREE interactive webinar with GFS Chief Ambassador and Executive Career Coach...
22/08/2026

🚀 Looking for a career boost?

Join us for a FREE interactive webinar with GFS Chief Ambassador and Executive Career Coach Ellie Rich-Poole and discover why asking for help and helping others can transform your career.

Together, we'll explore:
✅ Why we often struggle to ask for support
✅ How strong professional relationships can open doors
✅ Practical ways to build meaningful connections
✅ Actions you can take straight away

📅 Thursday 17 September
⏰ 12-1pm (UK time)

Expect an engaging hour packed with discussion, exercises, resources and inspiration. This isn't a webinar for sitting quietly in the background, so come along ready to participate!

Book your place today https://www.eventbrite.com/e/why-asking-for-and-offering-help-are-key-to-career-success-tickets-1998353874232?aff=oddtdtcreator

There’s always something happening at GFS – and our newsletter is the easiest way to stay connected.Sign up to hear abou...
21/08/2026

There’s always something happening at GFS – and our newsletter is the easiest way to stay connected.

Sign up to hear about the latest stories from girls and our groups, research and insights into girls’ lives, upcoming events and webinars, and ways you can get involved in supporting girls.

Whether you want to learn more about the issues affecting girls today, find your next GFS event or discover a new way to support our work, we’ll bring it straight to your inbox.

📩 Join the GFS mailing list today – it's so much more than a newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/girlsfriendlysociety/general-newsletter-signup

You never know where GFS will pop up… 📽️📺📸We received a message from a supporter that really made us smile this week."Th...
07/08/2026

You never know where GFS will pop up… 📽️📺📸

We received a message from a supporter that really made us smile this week.

"The reason I researched your organisation and donated was a reference to the society in the 'later' 1930's series of Upstairs Downstairs on Netflix."

Cue some detective work from our Fundraising Team! 🔍

And we discovered that Girls Friendly Society makes a cameo in the BBC revival of the popular period drama starring Keeley Hawes, Claire Foy and Ed Stoppard. 🤩

The storyline is so lovely, too – a housemaid goes to GFS for support when faced with poor working conditions.

Our support looks quite different in 2026 than it did in the 1930s. But we’re still focused on making sure girls and young women always have somewhere to turn as they navigate life’s challenges.

What a highlight of the week! And now we have our weekend viewing sorted, too… 🍿

How did you discover GFS? Tell us in the comments.

31/07/2026

Summer holidays are in full swing...

That means it’s the end of another amazing term for GFS groups, after school clubs and workshops.

Over the last year, we've:

Supported more than 1,100 girls 🩷

Launched 2 new groups and 1 new after school club 💫

Delivered 22 school workshops 🫶

Oh, and not forgetting that our girls smashed a world record, too! 💁‍♀️

Sending a huge thanks to all our volunteers for bringing the friendship, support and countless smiles to our girls every week.

And – of course – a massive well done to all the girls who have brought bravery, kindness and a whole lot of fun to every activity.

We’ll be back in September for more GFS groups and school workshops.

Don't miss out this week! Join the Girls' Rights Collective for a free lunchtime webinar bringing together research and ...
28/07/2026

Don't miss out this week! Join the Girls' Rights Collective for a free lunchtime webinar bringing together research and insights from across the girls' rights sector.

This month's speakers will explore:
• Preventing violence against women and girls through bystander intervention
• New research into the menstrual literacy gap
• Practical advice on uncovering funding opportunities and expanding your reach

If you work with girls and young women, are involved in the voluntary sector, or have an interest in girls' rights, we'd love you to join us.

Wednesday 29 July, 12pm–1pm
Online
Free to attend

Register here:
https://ow.ly/2TE750ZtM5s

Please share with colleagues, partners and anyone who'd find it useful—we look forward to seeing you there!

Want to use your skills to help girls build confidence, challenge inequality and realise their potential? ✨Girls Friendl...
27/07/2026

Want to use your skills to help girls build confidence, challenge inequality and realise their potential? ✨

Girls Friendly Society is growing, and we're looking for passionate people to join our team. Whether you're an experienced leader or love working directly with girls in schools and communities, we'd love to hear from you.

We're currently recruiting:

Delivery Manager (South) – Remote with regular travel
Schools and Groups Coordinator – Manchester (Hybrid)
Schools and Groups Coordinator – Liverpool (Hybrid)

Join an organisation that's been championing girls for over 150 years and help create safe spaces where girls can thrive. 🩷🩵

Visit our website to learn more about each role, salary and application details 👇

https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk/work-for-us/

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your networks.

Celebrating a very special woman today. 🎂Mary Townsend was born on this day in 1841. And 34 years later she set up Girl'...
23/07/2026

Celebrating a very special woman today. 🎂

Mary Townsend was born on this day in 1841. And 34 years later she set up Girl's Friendly Society GFS.

Her vision was to make sure young women leaving their homes and families to move to the city for work would have a supportive space to build community.

Over 150 years later, things look a little different for GFS.

But we're still providing safe spaces for girls and young women to build connection and confidence.

Today, we recognise and celebrate the impact Mary's work has had on hundreds of thousands of girls and young women across England and Wales.

Interested in research on girls’ rights? Sign up for the Girls Rights Collective UK Research Round-Up webinar, hosted by...
23/07/2026

Interested in research on girls’ rights?

Sign up for the Girls Rights Collective UK Research Round-Up webinar, hosted by GFS.

Wednesday 29 July
12pm-1pm
Free to all

We’ll be hearing from on preventing violence and what they learnt from bystander intervention research, on new findings on the menstrual literacy gap and on ways to uncover new funding and maximise reach.

Less than a week to go, so register now! Link in story and highlights.

🔍 What can the latest research tell us about improving girls' lives?Join us for our next Girls' Rights Collective Resear...
17/07/2026

🔍 What can the latest research tell us about improving girls' lives?

Join us for our next Girls' Rights Collective Research Round-Up, where we'll hear from organisations sharing fresh insights into some of the key issues affecting girls and young women today.

This session features:

📊 Kindling Interventions – exploring what we can learn from Wales' national bystander intervention pilot to prevent violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.

🩸 Irise International – sharing findings from the 2026 Red Report, examining the UK's menstrual literacy gap and what needs to change to tackle stigma and inequality.

Whether you're a researcher, practitioner, educator, policymaker or advocate, this is a great opportunity to hear the latest evidence, ask questions and connect with others working to advance girls' rights.

🗓️ Wednesday 29 July
🕛 12:00–1:00pm
💻 Online
🎟️ Free to attend

Book your free place: https://ow.ly/jjCb50Zoxbl

We'd love to see you there!

Address

3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street
London
EC2A4NE

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442078379669

Website

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