Two charitable organisations have potentially lost bids to purchase recently closed Girlguiding activity centres, it has emerged.
Last August, Girlguiding UK confirmed plans to close and sell the five activity centres it owned, namely Blackland Farm, Foxlease, Glenbrook, Waddow Hall and Ynysgain.
Following the announcement, Foxie’s Future was established as a charitable incorporated organisation that month to purchase Foxlease and save it from closure.
Similarly, Waddow Hall Trust registered as a charity in April this year to raise funds for the future of Waddow Hall.
According to save our Girlguiding activity centres, Girlguiding UK rejected bids from Foxie’s Future and Waddow Hall Trust despite being “fully funded” and “above asking price”.
However, Waddow Hall Trust said it remained hopeful of purchasing the site.
Girlguiding UK would not comment on the bids, saying that “information regarding the sale of activity centres remains commercially confidential until completion of each property”.
‘Girlguiding’s decision cannot be the right one’
Foxie’s Future previously said that since August 2023, it had secured more than £2.7m of funding and submitted its bid to try to secure the Foxlease site.
In a Facebook statement posted on Monday, the organisation wrote that it is “exceedingly disappointed” not to have been selected as the preferred bidder and does not know the identity of the chosen bidder.
“Whilst we understand Girlguiding’s trustees’ obligations to consider the bid best for the charity, 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.
“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’ve been given no reason why we weren’t selected.”
The charity said it has worked hard since its inception to develop “a sound five-year business plan and fundraised an almost unbelievable amount in a short time to put ourselves in a position where Girlguiding could legitimately choose us, whilst complying with its obligations”.
“Unfortunately, despite all of that, they haven’t,” it added.
“Nothing is final until contracts for sale have been exchanged and so there’s still time for Girlguiding to make what we believe is the right decision for the future of the site and for Girlguiding’s members.”
Waddow Hall Trust: ‘We’re still hopeful’
Janet Taylor, chair of trustees of Wadden Hall Trust, told Civil Society that the charity’s campaign has surpassed a year and been recently popularised due to political reporting that “breached confidentiality”.
“Waddow Hall hasn’t yet been sold but Girlguiding have informed the Trust that we’re currently the second preferred bidder,” she said.
“Since the process is confidential, we cannot speak for any other parties who may, or may not, have made a bid for the site nor are we able to speak for Girlguiding as we have no connection with the trustees and their decision-making process.
“Waddow Hall Trust trustees have forwarded a bid to purchase which has been received and considered by Girlguiding and our community-based charity has been notified in return that we’re in second place.
“We’re still hopeful that we’ll have the opportunity to save Waddow for generations to come.”
‘We’re working hard to achieve the best value and outcomes for Girlguiding members.’
A spokesperson for Girlguiding UK told Civil Society: “Information regarding the sale of activity centres remains commercially confidential until completion of each property.
“We’re 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.”
Related articles
