Campaign launched as Girlguiding reject bids for outdoor centres

The two charities who submitted bids have not been told why their bids failed, or the identity of the preferred bidder.

In response to the decision, the Save Our Centres campaign group has launched a social media campaign with #TellUsWhy to get answers from Girlguiding.

Foxie’s Future and Waddow Hall Trust, two charities founded by Girlguiding members, had submitted bids for Foxlease in the New Forest and Waddow Hall in Lancashire, which closed in December.

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Foxie’s Future met Girlguiding’s asking price for Foxlease, raising £2.5mn in nine months from a Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ grant and community loans.

In a Facebook post, Foxie’s Future said: “We were very surprised that at no time has Girlguiding given us the opportunity to match any higher bid or to submit a revised offer and at this time we have been given no reason why we were not selected. We find it difficult to accept that their decision can be the right one, given that we submitted a bid above their listed guide price for both Lots, the vast support we have from their membership, the extensive benefits for the future use by their members and the synergies with Girlguiding's publicly declared aims and future strategy.”

In response, Girlguiding UK said: "Information regarding the sale of activity centres remains commercially confidential until completion of each property. We are working hard and with care to ensure we achieve the best value and outcomes for Girlguiding members across the UK. Throughout this process we have been acting for the overall welfare of the organisation and in accordance with charity law. We’ll share more information following completion of each sale over the coming months.”

A spokesperson for the Save Our Centres campaign said: “We tell our girls that they can do anything, and that they should use their voice, but Girlguiding is disempowering the incredible women who have raised multi-million pound sums and created credible business plans with unbelievable speed and skill.

“We know that Girlguiding has to achieve the best outcome for the charity, but they can and must take other non-financial factors into account. These bids would allow the centres to stay close to the Girlguiding community while also providing above-asking price funds to Girlguiding.”

The outdoor training and activity centres have each been part of Girlguiding for a century, with Foxlease holding the first “world camp” in 1924. A petition asking Girlguiding to reconsider their closures in December attracted almost 40,000 signatures.

Protests also took place last year about the closure of other activity centres and overseas units.