Last updated: November 2021

The pandemic pushed GFS to really think about what we’re here for and how we could make sure we were still making a difference for girls and young women. One thing to come from it was our GFS at Home activities. While we may be lockdown free (for now) and back to face-to-face groups, you can still enjoy our activities from home.

Themed activities

With many parents at home and under pressure to keep children entertained, we felt that we could be a big help by making some of our activities available online.

We have released a number a themed activity packs that are fun for everyone and feature stereotype busting women that can help all children realise that girls can do anything.

If you’ve enjoyed the activities, take a picture and tag is in it on Facebook or Instagram – we love to see you having a great time.

The GFS Big Dreamers’ Club

The GFS Big Dreamers’ Club is our new online space for girls. The pandemic has allowed us to think creatively about how we can build girls’ confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

Big Dreamers Club consists of various packages of sessions for girls age 8-13 to focus on specific issues that are relevant to them. These are on pause while we support our groups to get back to face-to-face delivery, but we hope to relaunch them soon. You can find out more about it here.

How we created community during a time of social distancing

When Covid-19 created lockdowns, social distancing and new challenges, it didn’t take away the need for GFS and community support. If anything, it made the need much larger.

While some groups took to Zoom, others made activity packs they could deliver to girls’ homes to keep them engaged and supported. Some, like Judy from Atherstone, went so far as to hand deliver these packages she made for her girls to make sure they all received them.

Of course, not all volunteers are able to do this, and support was unique for all groups and areas. So, from GFS head office, we made sure to offer projects and programmes girls could do from home.

One of these was the GFS Big Dreamers Club, which ran short programmes of online activities for girls aged 8-13.

Each programme contained a crash course on a particular issue for girls and young women:

  • One was designed to help girls become future leaders by
    • building their confidence
    • questioning gender stereotypes about leadership
    • encouraging them to explore new ideas
  • The other looked at removing limitations by
    • questioning what’s holding them back
    • introducing them to girls in gendered jobs like tech
    • and reminding them that girls CAN do it

GFS also released themed activity packs for group leaders and parents to help keep their children entertained, engaged and supported, while they were stuck at home.

These featured stereotype busting women that can help all children realise that girls can do anything. Topics included, science week, children’s art week, spies and codebreakers week, sports day, music week, and much more.