Statement from Girlguiding: “At a meeting on the 9th January, Pippa Gardner was able to raise their concerns with a senior staff member and volunteer at Girlguiding about the partnership with the British Army. Girlguiding clarified that all programme content is designed by Girlguiding to robust quality and testing standards and is amended in response to member feedback during development. Partner organisations that sponsor elements of the programme do not control programme content and the British Army had no involvement in the writing of the activities for this part of the programme. As a sponsor of the Lead skills builder activities the British Army is involved in delivering a number of optional, value adding, activities focused on leadership development which members can choose to participate in.

At the meeting Girlguiding also clarified that current policy does not allow activities where weapons of any form are fired at human or animal-shaped targets; this policy remains unchanged and is not impacted by the partnership with the British Army.

Following the feedback from Pippa, edits have been made to the webpage relating to the British Army partnership to clarify what the Programme sponsorship role involves. Girlguiding has also committed to an ongoing exploration of how member engagement and consultation mechanisms can be enhanced.

For some of you this information will address your concerns, for others this will not. Information on how to raise a query can be found at:  https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/about-us/our-organisation/contact-us/  To make a formal complaint visit: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/policies/girlguiding-policies/complaints-policy/complaints-procedure/