An update about Waddow Hall

We’re pleased to share an important announcement about Waddow Hall, one of Girlguiding’s activity centres which closed in December 2023.

Following a carefully considered sales process, Waddow Hall has a new owner: GT Foundation, a UK registered and locally based charity. After the sale, Waddow Hall and its grounds will remain an activity centre and campsite for the local community as well as Girlguiding members. It will be run in collaboration with Waddow Hall Trust and other local adventure providers.

The new owner is a locally based charity, and its trustees have a knowledge and respect for Waddow Hall, its history, and its decades of use by Girlguiding members.

Throughout the process of selling the activity centres, we have worked hard and with care to act in the best interests and overall welfare of the organisation, all our members across the UK and charity law.

Denise Wilson, chair of Girlguiding’s board of trustees, and Tracy Foster, chief guide and trustee, said: ‘On behalf of the board of trustees, we took our role very seriously ensuring the use and legacy of Waddow Hall will continue for the local community and Girlguiding members. We’re delighted the new owner at Waddow Hall will make the site available for girls and young women in the future.’

The money from the sale of the activity centres is in a designated fund that will honour the legacy of the properties and enable us to invest in the future of Girlguiding. The new fund is for our current and future members and is being used to provide grants and improved experiences, including investing in adventure; for the future of guiding including our digital infrastructure; and for Girlguiding activities such as preserving and making accessible our archive. Some of these historical pieces from our archive will be celebrated in our London HQ shop in May.

Adventure at Girlguiding

The money from the sale of the activity centres has helped us to launch our new adventure fund. Experiencing adventure and time outdoors helps to build essential skills in leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, and we are committed to bringing more adventure to girls that is accessible, affordable and local. With the new fund, we are providing grants for girls, putting on more events, and providing resources to bring more adventure to all our members.

Last year, the adventure fund enabled 56,000 more girls to experience adventure in 147 events. And over 110,000 members have completed our adventure badges since they launched in 2023.

Want to read more about our plans for 2025 and 2026 including the Big Gig, wide game events and events in countries and regions? Deputy chief guide Sally Kettle has written about it.