A girl arrives at her weekly GFS session in Wales. She smiles and laughs with her friends. But there’s something playing on her mind. She bravely decides to ask one of the group volunteers about it: “what is online grooming?”
It wasn’t what anyone had planned to talk about that evening, but it was clearly something that mattered to her. So, the plan changed.
The volunteers helped the girls talk about warning signs, identifying trusted adults and knowing where to go for help. Many thoughtful questions followed, showing just how much the girls trusted the adults around them, how important this topic was to them, and how they needed somewhere safe to ask difficult questions.
That conversation wasn’t expected when everyone arrived at group that evening. But it was exactly the conversation those girls needed.
Moments like this happen in GFS groups all the time.
Of course, our group leaders prepare ahead for each session. In fact, they can choose activities from a carefully researched GFS programme designed to support girls’ confidence, resilience and to build the social and emotional skills they’ll carry with them throughout their lives.
But they also know when it’s right to pause, listen and follow the girls’ lead. Sometimes a question, a conversation or something happening locally is simply more important than the activity that was planned.
That was exactly the case in another of our groups following Senedd elections in Wales.
Inspired by the elections, the girls explored local democracy by deciding together how they would spend a fictional council budget. They listened to different viewpoints, discussed their ideas respectfully and reached a shared decision together.
Along the way they developed teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills while learning more about how decisions are made in their own communities and why every voice matters.
At first glance, these two sessions couldn’t have been more different. One started with a question about online safety. The other with a discussion about local democracy. But both had exactly the same starting point: the girls themselves.
Their questions, interests and experiences shaped the conversation, helping them better understand the world around them in a safe and supportive environment.
Sometimes it’s our volunteers who will recognise the need for an activity that reflects what they see is happening in girls’ lives and communities.
For example, groups in North East England have started providing simple hot meals at the start of a session, such as toasties or toast with toppings, after group leaders recognised that some girls needed something warm to eat before the evening’s activities.
It’s a small change, but one that helps girls settle in, feel supported and get the most from their time at GFS.
For many girls, asking a difficult question out loud can feel incredibly hard. Knowing they’ll be listened to without judgement is what gives them the confidence to ask it in the first place.
It takes trust to believe the adults in the room will listen and answer honestly. Those conversations don’t happen by accident. They’re built over weeks and months of creating spaces where girls know they’ll be heard, valued and taken seriously.
We know that approach makes a difference. Parents consistently tell us that GFS gives their daughters a safe place where they can be themselves, helps them speak up with confidence and provides trusted adults they know they can turn to.
One of our Group Coordinators summed it up perfectly:
“The group is a space for them to be themselves, to develop skills and learn about themselves without any worries about what ‘boys’ will think of them. They can ask questions and get some one-to-one adult time that they might not get anywhere else.”
Every week, girls arrive at GFS with their own questions, experiences and ideas. Sometimes those questions are about friendships. Sometimes they’re about something they’ve seen online or heard on the news. Sometimes they’re about what’s happening in their own community. Whatever they bring with them, they know they’ll be listened to.
By creating spaces where girls feel safe to ask questions, explore new ideas and develop confidence in themselves, we’re helping more girls realise their potential by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
Between 16 September 2025 and 15 September 2026, our GFS groups in Wales have been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund through Awards for All Wales and made possible by National Lottery players.