Their motto is ‘be prepared’, but nothing could have prepared Girl Guides who are members of Girlguiding UK’s Overseas (BGO) operations for this week’s news. The senior leadership of the organisation in the UK has decided to end all British Girlguiding overseas from 1 September 2023. The whole of BGO, its volunteers and young members will no longer be part of Girlguiding UK from that date.

The news was a shock for BGO leaders in Belgium who had not been consulted about the decision. Ali Anderson is the local District Commissioner for Brussels and Waterloo Girlguiding that runs activities at The British School of Brussels.

She has informed parents this morning (19 April) and commented that: “Our girls remain our absolute priority and we will not let the distraction of this news impact upon our commitment and ability to deliver a happy, safe Girlguiding programme up to the end of the school year.”

You can read the announcement from UK Girl Guides here.

Petition!

BGO volunteers, members and parents do not think forcing overseas operations to cease, because UK trustees apparently no longer wish to invest the time and effort required, is an acceptable course of action for senior leadership to take. They are calling on the UK Girlguiding leadership to reconsider.

You can help their efforts and make your support for BGO operations in Belgium (and globally) known by signing and sharing this petition.

Or you can contact BGO leadership direct via this email.