Girls’ Brigade

 

We are Woodlands GB!

Girls’ Brigade is a place of belonging — a family where girls are welcomed, nurtured and encouraged to be themselves. We strive to create a safe, supportive environment where every member feels valued and cared for.

When

Monday evenings, September to April

Who

Girls aged 3 to 18, in five sections

Our motto

Seek, Serve and Follow Christ

Our team of dedicated leaders is deeply committed to the work of Girls’ Brigade and to investing in each girl who comes through our doors. Their passion, creativity and faith shape everything we do. Each week’s activities are designed to help girls grow in confidence, develop new skills, build friendships and experience joy.

At the heart of our company is our desire to share the love and kindness of our Lord and Saviour. Guided by the Girls’ Brigade motto – Seek, Serve and Follow Christ – we aim to reflect His light in all that we do.

Our sections

Girls are grouped into five sections by age (from 1 July each year, except Tinies). Meeting times are subject to change.

Tinies Ages 3–4 (from their 3rd birthday) · 6pm – 7pm

This section may be small, but it’s overflowing with energy and excitement. Our youngest girls love playing games, singing upbeat songs, and taking part in interactive lessons that help them discover how much God loves them.

Each week, they build fine motor skills through movement and hands‑on activities — and they get the chance to embrace a bit of creative mess while making fun crafts. It’s a lively, joyful space where curiosity thrives, and every girl is encouraged to shine.

Tinies Uniform: White plain open neck blouse, GB navy tunic with GB crest, navy pants, white plain ankle socks, white PE slippers and long hair tied up with white ribbon. Red GB Hoodie is optional.

Explorers Ages 5–7 · 6.30pm – 8pm

Don’t all girls just love to explore and discover new and wonderful things. Our Explorers section is designed exactly for that. Each year, the girls work towards their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Explorer Stars, earning badges as they grow through the programme.

Their weekly activities are full of variety and fun — from games, dancing, singing, painting, crafts, choral speaking, and plenty of running around. Every night brings something new, helping them develop skills, build confidence, and make life‑long friends along the way.

Most importantly, we want our girls to explore not just the world around them, but the love of Jesus. Through simple, interactive Scripture lessons, they learn that God loves them deeply and personally. It’s a joyful, energetic space where faith, fun, and friendship come together.

Explorer uniform: White plain open neck blouse, GB navy tunic with GB crest, navy pants, white plain ankle socks, white PE slippers and long hair tied up with white ribbon. Red GB Hoodie is optional.

Juniors Ages 8–10 · 6.30pm – 8.30pm

As girls move into Juniors, their curiosity grows, and they’re eager to learn new skills. This section helps equip them for the world around them by exploring four key areas — Spiritual, Physical, Educational, and Service. These form the Junior Circles, which the girls work towards achieving each year.

Juniors love to stay busy, and their programme is packed with interactive, hands‑on activities. Each week can include baking, sewing, singing, drama, sign language, research projects, team games, and figure marching — just to name a few. Every activity is designed to help them develop confidence, build friendships, and discover their God‑given talents in a fun, supportive environment.

Junior uniform: GB navy v-neck sweatshirt, white plain open neck blouse, GB navy tunic with GB crest, navy pants, white plain ankle socks, white PE slippers, long hair tied up with white ribbon and Junior section badge.

Seniors Ages 11–13 · 7pm – 9pm

Seniors are discovering their voice, and GB provides space for them to use it confidently and respectfully. Many girls begin to question faith and the existence of God during these years, which is why our Scripture class is so important. We encourage them to explore their questions, use helpful resources, and connect with God in a personal and authentic way.

Like Juniors, Seniors follow the four‑sided programme — Spiritual, Physical, Educational, and Service — giving them a balanced and purposeful year. They enjoy learning practical skills such as first aid, cooking simple meals, and crafting, alongside discussion groups on topics like fire awareness, mental health, self‑esteem, and identity. It’s a busy, engaging programme designed to support their growth, strengthen their confidence, and help them navigate life with faith and resilience.

Senior uniform: GB navy v-neck sweatshirt, white plain open neck blouse, PLAIN navy track bottoms, plain white ankle socks, white PE slippers, long hair tied up with white ribbon and Senior section badge.

Brigaders Ages 14–18 · 7pm – 9pm

With all the stress and pressure that school can bring, Girls’ Brigade becomes a safe space where Brigaders can unwind, breathe, and step away from the demands they face every day. This section offers a relaxed, supportive environment where girls can refocus, recharge, and enjoy time together.

Our main emphasis is on Scripture, giving the girls space to connect with God in a personal and meaningful way. These sessions are calm, conversational, and designed to help them deepen their relationship with Him.

Alongside this, Brigaders enjoy a wide variety of activities: team games, community walks, baking, badminton, unihoc, dodgeball, hand crafts, and practical life‑skills sessions. But one of their favourite parts of the night is simply chill‑out time — popping the kettle on, sharing snacks, chatting, and building strong friendships.

Brigaders follow the four‑sided programme, guided by the PSALT files (Practical and Spiritual Applications for Living Today). Each year, they work to achieve at least 10 points to earn their Brigader Triangles. After achieving 40 points over a minimum of three years, they are awarded the prestigious Brigader Brooch — a meaningful milestone that recognises commitment, growth, and faith.

Brigader uniform: GB navy v-neck sweatshirt, white plain open neck blouse, PLAIN navy track bottoms, plain white ankle socks, white PE slippers, long hair tied up with white ribbon and Brigader section badge.

Meet the team

We are very excited for what God is going to do in Woodlands GB this year. We pray for each girl as she walks through the doors on a Monday night, that GB will be an opportunity to share the love and joy that knowing Jesus brings. Each section is run by:

Tinies
  • Rebecca Robinson
  • Emma Oliver
  • Megan Hagan
  • Rachel Marshall
  • Catherine Scott
  • Sharon Lacey
Explorers
  • Jean Bell
  • Lillian McClelland
  • Lucy Best
  • Catrina Drysdale
  • April Ross
  • Carol McCullough
  • Joan Haveron
  • Margaret McFerran
  • Rachel Hay
  • Tania Cortes
  • Irene Lacey
Juniors
  • Jean Stronge
  • Katie McCrea
  • Melanie Boyd
  • Carol Hoey
  • Rachel Evans
Seniors & Brigaders
  • Carolyn McMaw
  • Laura Evans
  • Lois Parkes
Company leadership Captain · Chaplain · Child Protection
  • Captain: Leeanne Railton
  • Chaplain: Rev David Kelly
  • Designated Child Protection: Lillian McClelland

How to join Woodlands GB

If you would like your daughter to be part of GB, she will be made very welcome – our leaders will do everything they can to help her settle into her section as quickly as possible.

  1. Register online – please complete the form in full and double-check the details you enter.
  2. Check your email – your confirmation email includes our welcome letter, with details about uniform and registration fees.
  3. Come to our information night on Monday 31 August – pay membership fees, try on a sample GB hoodie to order, get uniform details, use our uniform swap shop, pick up our “What’s happening” calendar and ask any questions.
  4. First night back is Monday 7 September 2026, at the normal times for all sections.
How we use your information

Please note: You can check out the GBNI Privacy Notice via www.gbni.co.uk/privacy-policy. In Woodlands GB, in line with UK GDPR, we collect the data on behalf of the church, which is stored on our secure ChurchSuite system.  We only use your data for GB admin, emergencies, general updates or reminders about GB via WhatsApp/email and the odd promotion of other activities happening around the church.  We don’t share your data with anyone else.  Only the legal parents/guardians of the child can sign the consent form.  Please note that if the child is aged 13 or over, she will need to sign the form regarding data consent to allow us to process her information. We are not permitted to keep the consent forms for any longer than needed, however, we still need to keep photo consent for future use.

Prayer points

More information?

If you have any further queries, please email woodlands@gbni.co.uk.

For more information on the work of Girls’ Brigade, check out the following websites:

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What’s On

See what’s coming up at Woodlands and our regular weekly groups.