No response from Girlguiding LaSER.

Thank you so much for signing and supporting this petition.

On 04/03/2021 We sent the petition to Girlguiding LaSER along with 10 questions we would like them to answer.

1. The charity commission advises charities before making big decisions to consider contacting beneficiaries, members, donors/supporters. How did you come to the conclusion to not involve members in this decision?
2. What policies are in place that determines when you consult members in regards to big decisions? 
3. Was there a risk assessment carried out in relation to the impact this would have and who would be affected? If so please can we see it?
4. What are LaSER proposing to do to ensure that the same level of accessible camping and access to outdoor spaces are still available if these sites were to close?
5. In the most recent annual report published on the Charity Commission website, it shows LaSER as having over £1 million in reserves. - We anticipate that the financial position of the charity has changed since this was published, please could you expand on why this decision was made and what the true financial situation for the region is. 
6. Has the £10-per-member subscriptions contributions been factored into the costings of the sites, as from our understanding the reason it is that price is to cover these site costs?
7. The membership representatives on the trustee board have a responsibility to act in the members interests, what actions do these trustees take to ensure they are gaining the opinions of the membership they are representing?
8. How did you calculate that 93% of the region do not use the campsites, can we please see the data you are using for this statistic, or can you explain how you determined this figure?
9. How many region events have been held at the regional campsites in the past 5 years?
10. A lot of the responses to the petition are offering funding in order to keep these sites open how much money would need to be crowdfunded in order to keep the sites? As there is an ever-growing group that would like to support so that these places can remain open.
    
    

To date, we have not had a response to our questions or even an acknowledgement from Girlguiding LaSER. 

On 05/03/2021 we raised an official complaint with Girlguiding nationally about the lack of transparency and consultation with members regarding Girlguiding LaSERs decision-making process in this matter. Currently, this is being investigated by a Senior Compliance Officer at Girlguiding Head Office. We will update you regarding this complaint once we have any additional information/findings that we can share. 

By not responding or acknowledging both the petition and questions raised to them Girlguiding LaSER are continuing to refuse to communicate with its members which is fundamentally against its ethos. Their continued lack of communication whilst resuming a business-as-usual approach to external communications, via their social media accounts and newsletters etc, fails to recognise the seriousness of the issue. 

Thank you all for your continued support with this petition, we will keep you informed should there be any developments or responses from Girlguiding LaSER.