Elsie is proud to be a dedicated role model and active citizen.

As a member of Girlguiding, she always enjoyed going above and beyond. When she was a Brownie, she loved helping her leaders set up and tidy away without being asked, and supporting new or younger members to settle in and have fun. As she moved up to Guides, she became a Patrol Leader, where she helped plan term programmes, lead activities, and made sure everyone feels included, especially those with additional needs. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are really important to her, and she uses her voice to advocate for others locally and across Girlguiding Dumfries and Galloway.

Elsie is passionate about fundraising to keep costs low for families and even donate uniforms she has outgrown through a ‘uniform bank’ to help others. At the county level, she often volunteers her time to help set up large-scale events like festivals and camps. She is always happy to help and show that girls can do everything – and anything! She is also passionate about children’s rights.

At school, she is a part of the ‘Rights Respecting’ steering group, helping her school work towards becoming a UNICEF Silver Rights Respecting School. Her dedication to this led to her recent appointment as Junior Vice School Captain. Outside of school, Elsie is a Young Advisor to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland, where she works with her peers to advocate for children’s rights, focusing on issues like education, mental health, climate change, and poverty.

At home, she loves being a supportive sister to her older brother and sister, and helping look after their three rescue dogs and a cat. She is also a dedicated ballet dancer, studying classical Cecchetti ballet, and she loves spending time with friends – she is definitely known as a chatterbox!

Elsie is really excited to continue to help others and make a difference in her community, and cannot wait to see what the future holds.