Girlguiding has announced that it will continue activities in British Overseas Territories, after the closure of its overseas units in September.
The charity said it will integrate guiding within the British Overseas Territories – specifically Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands – into the structure of Girlguiding North West England region.
Girlguiding in these areas will be governed by senior volunteers and staff in the Girlguiding North West England region, after a transition period that will be completed by September.
Girlguiding activities in these territories were previously part of the charity’s international arm, British Girlguiding Overseas, which closed in September last year, when Girlguiding said the decision was “based on the charity’s future ability to run an overseas operation in 36 countries and territories, each with separate laws and regulations.”
BGO opened a petition to oppose the decision, which gained more than 19,000 signatures, but the charity went ahead with the closure.
The Charity Commission opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity following concerns about the decision, but made no finding of wrongdoing.
In a statement today, the charity said that over the past year, it had been working with senior volunteers in the nine Overseas Territories to find a way for Girlguiding activities to continue in these areas.
It said: “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 the Girlguiding North West England region, funded by the British Overseas Territories”, had also been agreed. Girlguiding said this refers to staff capacity and the ability to have staff who are specifically working on behalf of these territories.
The statement said: “We are delighted that members in British Overseas Territories can continue as part of Girlguiding so girls can be themselves, feel at home, have fun and try new things – enjoying time with friends and encouraged by amazing volunteers.”