The United Kingdom government has committed to finding a solution to the uncertain future of Girlguiding organisations in British overseas territories, including in the Cayman Islands.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Culture, Media and Sport Stuart Andrew, during a debate on the issue in Westminster on Wednesday afternoon, 24 Jan., said discussions were continuing with Girlguiding UK in a bid to retain the British link to the overseas territories chapters of the organisation.
“We will continue to work with Girlguiding and explore every option that may be available to us,” Andrew said, as he emphasised that his team is “absolutely committed” to ensuring that all young people have access to those regular clubs, activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer.
“While that is being provided for young people in England, we are equally passionate about opportunities for young people wherever they are,” he said.
Girlguiding UK announced in April last year that it planned to cut ties with all its overseas branches.
Girlguiding Cayman Islands Commissioner Charlotte Lewis, who watched the parliamentary debate, said, “We are very grateful for all of the support and awareness raised of the situation we are facing. It was heartwarming to hear that those speaking [on Wednesday] have fond memories of Girlguiding and how it has helped so many girls and women to grow and develop.”
She said her team continues “to work hard on finding a solution which continues with a link to the UK and still benefits our members”.
The debate was the result of an impassioned plea for the matter to be ventilated in Parliament from Democratic Unionist Party MP for Strangford, Jim Shannon.
It ended with MPs voting in favour of finding a solution for the issue.
Andrew said, though UK Girlguiding is an independent charitable organisation, conversations between Girlguiding, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, and the Ministry of Defence will continue to consider all the options that might enable British Girlguiding Overseas to carry on in the territories.
“I would like to express my thanks to Girlguiding’s board of trustees for delaying the cessation of operations abroad so that we can fully explore all the options and support a local solution that is consistent with Girlguiding’s decisions about what is appropriate for the organisation. I totally understand the strength of feeling, and that is why we are carefully working across government to see what solutions can be found,” he added.
UK Girlguiding had indicated that the timeline for Girlguiding activities in the overseas territories would be extended into 2024 to give members time to transition to “any new way we may be delivering Girlguiding in Overseas Territories”.
Girlguiding Overseas operations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Benelux, France and Europe closed on 1 Sept. 2023.
Shannon, in his contribution to the debate, said he took “immense comfort” from Andrew’s words.
“The government have committed to retaining our Britishness in the overseas territories, protecting vital services such as the Girl Guides. The overseas territories are an integral part of the UK. There is a modern and productive partnership, and a commitment to that partnership and to the wider opportunities that Girlguiding gives, including the camping out and Remembrance Sunday,” he said.
Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, quoting Cayman’s youth and sports minister Isaac Rankine, said he made the point that Girlguiding Cayman Islands provides structure, guidance and leadership.
“That is what those in Girlguiding in the Overseas Territories want to continue: the structure, the guidance and the leadership that has come from Girlguiding in the UK. That would allow the organisational structure to be maintained with sound governance and support from the governing body of Girlguiding. That is all that they are calling for,” she said.
Nokes said the overseas territories’ Girlguiding organisations are asking for “that umbrella of support and structure to be maintained. They are prepared to consider new, innovative and different ways to allow that to happen.”
Shannon and his fellow MPs participating in the debate welcomed the extended deadline, but they stressed that a way forward must be found.
Lilian Greenwood, Labour MP for Nottingham South, recounted her own experiences as a Brownie Sixer and a Pixie and the values she learned during her time.
There are nine UK overseas territories in which Girlguiding operates and, according to the chief commissioner of British Girlguiding Overseas, there are 618 Girl Guides in the overseas territories and 182 volunteer leaders, she said.
“Although that is a very small proportion of all Girlguiding’s members, it would be very sad if British girls and volunteers living outside mainland UK were denied the opportunities that their mothers and grandmothers were afforded for so many years,” she said.
Bradford South MP Judith Cummins said she tabled an early-day motion on the same subject and have written to Girlguiding UK to ask it to reconsider this important decision.
She said surely the challenges that Girlguiding cites are not insurmountable and can be overcome.
“Decisions like this should not be made just because things are difficult or challenging. Let us overcome the challenges. I ask Girlguiding UK to reconsider its decision and to see the good sense in the arguments that have been made today,” she appealed.
She said as a former Brownie, Pixie and Guide, she could recall the joy and pride of earning badges and the hard work that went into them.
“There was a sense of working together with my friends in a common endeavour to achieve something greater than ourselves,” she said.
Girlguiding is the largest youth organisation dedicated completely to girls aged between four and 18.
At present, there are 200 members of Girlguiding Cayman Islands, which includes volunteers and members in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
All Girlguiding sections, which includes Rainbows (ages 5-7), Brownies (ages 7-10), Guides (ages 10-14), and Rangers (ages 14-18), have membership in the Cayman Islands.
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