Girlguiding rows back on plans to scrap overseas operations

The charity announced the closure of its British Girlguiding Overseas operations in 36 countries last year, sparking criticism from MPs and resulting in an investigation by the Charity Commission.

But this week Girlguiding has announced that operations in British Overseas Territories including the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands will continue.

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They are to be integrated into the structure of its North West of England operations and be overseen by senior volunteers and staff in the region.

Operations in a total of nine overseas territories will continue under the plan, which will be completed by September this year.

“Over the past year, we have been working with senior volunteers in the nine overseas territories on a way forward for Girlguiding activities to continue,” said Girlguiding.

“As a result, we have agreed that Girlguiding North West England’s board of trustees and management structure will provide support to, and oversight and assurance of, guiding organisations in British Overseas Territories, as with their other areas of responsibility."

The charity added that “a dedicated resource within” its North West operations, that is funded by the territories involved, has also been agreed. 

In announcing the closure of its overseas operations last year Girlguiding also revealed that five UK activity centres, in East Sussex, Hampshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Wales, will stop operating amid concerns around funding for renovations and low uptake.

More than 31,000 people signed a petition against the move and hundreds of members of the charity staged a protest in June last year.

Last September, House of Commons culture, media and sport chair Caroline Dinenage MP raised concerns about the closures saying the charity was “removing opportunities” for “young people to take part in outdoor activities, learn new skills and have fun”.

So concerned about @Girlguiding plans to close all 5 Training & Activity centres & cease overseas operations pic.twitter.com/eLA8iAoHTv

— Caroline Dinenage (@cj_dinenage) September 19, 2023

Also, in September last year the Charity Commission confirmed it was looking into the closures.

“We are aware of concerns that some have about decisions made by The Guide Association (Girlguiding) to end British Girlguiding Overseas operations and sell its training and activity centres in the UK,” said a spokesperson at the time.

“Strategic decisions like this are for trustees to make, but we have a role in ensuring that trustees have complied with their legal duties and responsibilities in the way they made decisions."