Every Tuesday evening, between the ages of ten and 14, I used to put on a funny little Thunderbirds-style cap and go to Guides.

Being a Girl Guide is something I have in common with Lorraine Kelly, Kate Moss, Cherie Booth, Anita Roddick and Helen Sharman, the first British woman in space.

I loved Guides. I learned practical skills, I had a laugh with my friends playing daft games and going on weekend camps, and I got a sense of achievement being presented with new badges to sew on to my uniform.

I even became a Queen's Guide. This meant acquiring armfuls of badges. It took a lot of commitment and there weren't many of us in the country. It was worthy of a picture in the T&A!

Guides was a big part of my life; my first Guide camp (to Ilkley) was my first trip without my parents and I remember everything about it, from travelling there in the back of a removal van to eating semi-raw sausages out of a pan on the campfire, to scoffing a midnight feast in the middle of a violent storm. At home I read my Guide Handbook religiously. "I'm learning first aid," I told my mum. "Ask me what I'd do if someone sinks an axe into their leg at camp." "You'd faint," came the reply.

In 2010 the Guide movement celebrates its centenary. But does Guiding have any significance today? Do girls still go to Guides? And if so, how does it compare to my Guiding days in the 1980s?

I assumed that in an age of iPods, internet chat-rooms and stadium teen rock girls would no longer be interested in campfires or pathfinder's badges. And of course these days girls can join Scouts, so is there still a place for Guides?

To my surprise, the answer is yes. There are even waiting lists.

The problem lies with a shortage of Guide leaders. Angela Overend, district commissioner for Idle, and Joyce Spink of the West Yorkshire North division of Girlguiding UK, recently sent out leaflets appealing for leaders.

"We're a victim of our own success," said Joyce. "There are 50,000 girls on waiting lists for Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. But we need 10,000 more leaders so we can open more units. We're facing the prospect of closing some down."

My old Guide pack, the 10th Bradford (Greengates) Guides, is one of several that closed.

To find out what 21st century Guides got up to I went along to the 107th Thackley Methodist Guides - and was amazed to see them wearing jeans! A far cry from my Guide uniform, worn with a neckerchief, cap, navy skirt, knee socks and polished shoes (they were inspected each week). These Guides were in blue T-shirts with their badges sewn on the back, instead of down each arm.

"It's a more casual, practical uniform," said leader Helen Cragg. "Jeff Banks designed new Guide and Brownie uniforms a few years ago but we've moved on."

Helen was a Guide at Thorpe Methodist Church before joining Rangers then training to be a Guide leader. "I've been here 11 years," she said. "We have fun and it's rewarding seeing the girls growing up and acquiring life skills, making friends and helping others. Guides work towards goals at their own pace but within a team. They learn decision-making and responsibility; at camp they put up tents, hunt for wood, build fires, cook, wash-up and clear away."

Girlguiding UK, the country's largest female youth organisation, strives for girls' voices to be heard. The aim is for Guides to be challenged by new experiences and achieve a sense of pride in accomplishment; think for themselves and make decisions; undertake teamwork; acquire leadership skills, self-respect and confidence; develop personal values; contribute to society and live by the Guide Law.' "The biggest change in Guiding is the badges," said Helen. "They're more geared to personal safety, outdoor pursuits and practical skills. It's hands-on teamwork. Sometimes Guides could be quite hard going, I remember having my head in the handbook a lot but today the focus is on activities, rather than study