Innovation call in wake of trans rule

YOUTH charities like Girlguiding can hopefully come up with “innovative” ways to ensure children do not feel excluded in the wake of a ban on trans girls joining, the Children’s Commissioner has said.

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A coalition of volunteers and parents has argued that refusing a child based on their gender identity “sends a message of rejection” to young people.

Girlguiding - which has around 300,000 UK members across its Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers groups - announced in early December that it will only allow those recorded female at birth to join.

Many volunteers within Girlguiding have threatened to resign over the issue but others have welcomed the change, saying they had expressed safeguarding concerns and were pleased at the change.

When it made its policy announcement, taken after legal advice following the Supreme Court ruling in April on biological sex, Girlguiding described it as a “difficult decision”.

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, said she was “so sad” to hear of children feeling excluded.