GIRLS, families, and communities across Wales are being invited to help build the world’s longest friendship bracelet, in a joyful, colourful celebration of friendship and connection.
To mark its 150th anniversary, UK charity Girls Friendly Society (GFS) is attempting to beat the current world record of 2,800 feet, creating one enormous, continuous bracelet made by thousands of people across the UK and Wales is already on board.
Across Dunvant, Grangetown, Port Talbot, and Townhill, five GFS groups are offering safe, joyful spaces for girls to grow and connect. The Townhill Juniors and Seniors groups, along with others in the region, have been running for over seven years, forming a strong foundation of community support.
This year, 91 girls are attending GFS sessions across Wales, supported by 22 local volunteers who give their time week after week to ensure girls feel heard, included, and confident. Now, the whole community is invited to braid alongside them, and be part of something unforgettable.
Heather Smith, CEO at GFS, said: “Each braid tells a story. At GFS, our girls, volunteers and supporters find a community where they can feel safe to be themselves.
“The bracelet represents all those individuals coming together, each unique, but all connected. Together, they send a powerful message to every girl: ‘you belong’.”
GFS has been creating supportive spaces for girls and young women since 1875, places where they can build confidence, make real friendships, and feel safe being themselves.
That mission is more urgent than ever. In a world where one in five girls feels lonely most or all of the time, GFS offers a much-needed antidote: connection, care, and community.
One participant said: “Outside GFS, there’s loads of judgment and people rain on your ideas but it’s brighter inside here, where you can be yourself, be comfortable, and shine.”
This campaign aims to raise awareness of GFS’s work and engage new supporters, while creating a national moment of joyful participation. It is free to join, open to all ages, and designed to be low-waste, low-cost, and high impact.
Braids must be returned by October 31 to be counted toward the record attempt.
GFS is one of the oldest UK charities supporting girls and young women. It works in underserved communities to run weekly girls-only groups, where participants build confidence, resilience, and connection. The charity’s work is rooted in the belief that friendship isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.
To learn more, visit the Girls Friendly Society website.
