An important announcement about British Girlguiding Overseas
Trustees made a decision about the future of BGO in April 2023.
Last updated: 28 March 2024.
Girlguiding’s board of trustees regularly reviews our operations and as part of this, trustees made an important decision about Girlguiding's overseas operations.
The UK board of trustees decided to make changes and to end British Girlguiding Overseas (BGO) operations. BGO was guiding for girls who live overseas. There were around 2,600 members in BGO, and it took place in 36 countries and territories. There were 2 parts within the overseas operations: firstly, units in the Middle East and Africa, Asia, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg (Benelux) and France, Europe and lone guiding. Secondly, guiding for girls who live in British Overseas Territories (formerly called branches and Caribbean and Atlantic areas). A full list of countries can be seen below.
BGO closed on 1 September 2023, along with units in the Middle East and Africa, Asia, Benelux and France and Europe. Girlguiding activities in British Overseas Territories will stay as part of Girlguiding. Guiding in these areas will be integrated into the structure of the Girlguiding North West England region and be governed by senior volunteers and staff in the region. There will be a transition period which will be completed by 1 September 2024.
Why was this decision made?
For the UK board of trustees, the decision was made based on the organisation’s future ability to run an overseas operation in 36 countries and territories, each with separate laws and regulations. BGO ended operations on 1 September 2023 in the Middle East and Africa, Asia, Benelux and France and Europe and units closed. The way forward was different for British Overseas Territories because of the way guiding associations in these territories are governed, and their ties to the UK.
In the Middle East and Africa, Asia, Benelux and France and Europe, guiding run by Girlguiding ended on 1 September 2023. That means Girlguiding units, trips and meetings no longer happen in these areas.
Members of Girlguiding have been progressing the discussion about military bases. Conversations are underway with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to understand what support may be possible for girls to continue guiding on overseas military bases in the future under new arrangements. Girlguiding on military bases in the Middle East and Africa, Asia, Benelux and France and European countries closed on 1 September 2023. If more information becomes available, we will keep members updated.
We are pleased to share the news that Girlguiding activities in British Overseas Territories will stay as part of Girlguiding.
Guiding in these areas (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands) will be integrated into the structure of the Girlguiding North West England region and be governed by senior volunteers and staff in the region. There will be a transition period which will be completed by 1 September 2024.
This announcement does not affect the way we deliver guiding across the UK and in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Our structure, policies and procedures remain the same across the UK, and unit meetings, trips and online meetings can continue as normal.
This decision does not affect international trips for girls who live and are part of units in the UK. We remain committed to providing more opportunities for all girls to feel and be part of our worldwide sisterhood of guiding – from learning about different countries and cultures, being connected to girls in other countries and being part of WAGGGS.
Legacy of British Girlguiding Overseas
BGO has been a valued part of Girlguiding UK for much of our 113-year history, with thousands of incredible volunteers providing fun, friendship and adventure for girls who are living overseas. We want to emphasise that this decision was nothing to do with the quality of the experiences that volunteers had been providing for girls. We want to thank everyone involved in running and supporting this wide-reaching operation. Everyone is part of our long and rich history, and where possible we have supported girls and volunteers living overseas to continue to be part of guiding in new ways.
Support for all Girlguiding members
Chief guide Tracy Foster, chair of the board of trustees Catherine Irwin, and CEO Angela Salt hosted a webinar to share more information about the announcements on British Girlguiding Overseas (BGO) and the 5 Girlguiding-owned activity centres.
Questions you may have
What is BGO?
British Girlguiding Overseas (BGO) was guiding for girls who live overseas and took place in 36 countries and territories with around 2,600 members.
Which countries and territories did Girlguiding UK operate BGO in?
The countries in Middle East and Africa, Asia, Benelux and France, Europe and lone guiding are: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain (including Tenerife, Lanzarote), Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates.
Girlguiding activities in British Overseas Territories will stay as part of Girlguiding. Guiding in these areas (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands) will be integrated into the structure of the Girlguiding North West England region and be governed by senior volunteers and staff in the region. There will be a transition period which will be completed by 1 September 2024.
Who can I contact with a question?
In order to give you the best support we can, Girlguiding has a special support team to answer your questions about the British Overseas Territories or British Girlguiding Overseas (BGO). All calls are confidential, and lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Get in touch: +44 (0)20 8159 4040 or [email protected].
Find out more, including how this team will handle personal data.