THIS month the 5th Ilkley Brownies made their regular visit to one of the movement’s popular activity centres to take part in a fun, action-packed adventure… but it may be for the final time.
The group went to Waddow Hall near Clitheroe, in Lancashire, where they enjoyed archery, bushcraft activities, inflatables, a magic show, dancing and a campfire, plus sleeping in a big top circus tent with 800 other Rainbows, Brownies and Leaders. Other activities on offer included climbing, low ropes, kayaking and crafts.
But the Girlguiding organisation which runs Brownies has announced a plan to sell off five of its activity centres, including historic Waddow Hall.
Ann Peacock of Girlguiding Wharfedale said: “The event was a huge success, with girls developing new skills, making new friends, taking part in challenges and most importantly having fun.
“Frustratingly, Girlguiding’s activity centres are currently at risk of being sold due to a lack of funding. This is a great shame as they are an integral part of facilitating valuable and safe outdoor and adventurous experiences for members of Girlguiding, schools and other youth groups.”
Girlguiding says the five threatened centres — Blackland Farm, Foxlease, Glenbrook, Waddow Hall and Ynysgain — need too much investment and have seen falling visitor numbers. The plan is that they keep operating until 31 December 2023, with all 2023 bookings and events going ahead as planned.
A statement from Girlguiding said: "The activity centres have been used by less than 10% of our membership over the past decade. We know most of our members are choosing to have adventures within their units, near their home, and in other locations and facilities. “There has been historic underinvestment in the activity centres, and they have been running at an overall loss for some years, despite successful efforts to generate more business from different markets.
“The centres would need significant funding of over £20m in the coming years to be fit for future use. We cannot afford this level of investment.
“The trustees have made this recommendation to help financially secure the organisation, so that Girlguiding can continue to be a place where girls know they can do anything for years to come. The recommendation is that the five activity centres would be sold, with net proceeds going back into a designated investment fund to support Girlguiding activities, adventure for girls across the UK, and for a range of purposes to invest in the future of Girlguiding. We are open to options related to the sale of these properties.”
According to the Civil Society, which monitors the activities of charitable organisations, Girlguiding’s income for the 2021 calendar year was £24.7m, while its expenditure was £25.1m.
A petition to get Girlguiding to scrap the plan has been launched, which has already been signed by tens of thousands of people.
The petition states: “The decision to sell the centres will affect not only a large number of members of staff, many of whom are Girlguiding volunteers in their own time, but also a huge number of Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, leaders, volunteers and Trefoil Guild members.”
Girlguiding will now enter a statutory process with the affected staff and their representatives, and is expected to make a further announcement in August about the outcome of the consultation and its plans to sell the centres.
The petition can be viewed at: www.change.org/p/girlguiding-uk-to-review-and-reconsider-the-decision-to-sell-the-five-activity-centres
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