A trans-Identified BDSM fan/gun nut is now a senior leader at Girlguiding

I'm just catching up with this and wonder at the double standards of GGUK. I know someone, a senior leader, who was suspended pending investigation when her estranged husband was arrested for downloading child sex abuse images. She had to go through investigation, interviews and whatnot, just for being the ex wife of a man who was arrested (not charged, arrested and interviewed). Safeguarding applied here, in fact it was a bit heavy handed seeing as they'd already split but hadn't yet divorced. And no, she had no clue he was a pervert, she got rid cos he was a controlling, emotionally frozen git.

That is disgusting, NoToast. I am so sorry. Would you consider contacting the Police? No need to answer. Hugs

In 2018, I reported to girl guides that in the 80s I'd been groped at camp by the husband of a leader. They were apologetic but said they couldn't take it further as I couldn't give them a first name.

So, town, date, unit, surname just not enough for them to be interested.

Still no report from Girl Guiding on how their investigation is going

I see Girl Guiding are continuing to tweet as if nothing has happened. Well done to the tweeters continuing to reply and ask about the investigation

Once you've entered the realm of: 'our policies say this - but sod them, we're doing this anyway against policy cos reasons' then really where is the point in continuing to expect any sound practice or sense? Run. Run away.

The regular email for volunteers from HQ came out today… and completely ignores this ever happened.

It sounds as though the people at the top of the organisation don't really understand safeguarding. They seem to think it's one of many things they need to hold in balance. That's an easy (and unfortunately common) mistake to make because 99% of stuff does need balancing. But it's potentially lethal.

I'm afraid at this point I would not leave a child in their care under any circumstances. They are utterly unsafe, intentionally, wilfully, and because they are blindly adhering to politics and ruddy awful advice and advisors, it has nothing to do with 'inclusiveness' (Which is yet more bollocks since they are now far less inclusive than they were before they became male centric.)

This will end in disaster. The serious case review will be horrific. The trouble is, some poor kid will be the one who actually pays the price of all this adult hubris.

Sounds to me like they’re intending on doubling down. If they were going to do something, if they apply their own rules, it stands to reason it would be done quickly. Or at the very least, that there would be a temporary suspension while they investigate. That the website has gone back up, with the profile still in place, is bad news, I think.

Given how much they’ve invested in getting this individual on board, they will presumably be even more invested in preserving their position. And of course, having seen the fuss some similar individuals make when crossed, they’re possibly now realizing just how far they have backed themselves into a corner, assuming they have even that much insight, which possibly they don’t.

Eggybrains: "Membership is, I believe 240k-ish young members, down from 535k in 2013."

Then, notwithstanding that the organisation is rich, it looks to me that they are on their way out.

And we have policies that are followed by all our volunteers,

This obviously isn't true.

My reply has arrived and is very similar. Not all of it c+p but most of it. And a combo it seems.

I've had a slightly differently worded reply from Inclusion Support:

Thank you for your email.

Girlguiding is aware of concerns raised. We are looking into this as a matter of urgency and will provide the necessary support and action in line with our compliance procedures.

A lot of care and attention to detail goes into making guiding happen safely, and ensuring that all our young members’ needs are balanced and considered in everything we do. Our rigorous recruitment and vetting policies help keep our member safe. And we have policies that are followed by all our volunteers, including our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.

We have been looking after girls and young women for over 100 years and we will always have their needs, their safety and their enjoyment at the heart of everything that we do.

Kind regards,
Volunteer Support

Still cobblers. I have written back to point out that they are putting the needs of biological males above those of girls and women and - more importantly - that they didn't answer my question about how these appointments work with inclusion for girls from a religious background which requires single sex spaces.

I am not anticipating an answer.

Membership is, I believe 240k-ish young members, down from 535k in 2013.

@averylongtimeago - I'm glad your area is on it with safespace and DBS. Ours is not. Apparently it's "unmanageable and unsustainable" for these to be checked up on. We have had multiple volunteers without a disclosure.

Not sure if anyone has already posted this, but if not.

Girl Guides is absolutely loaded even though they ran a deficit of £4m last year which came from losses on investments not a reduction in subs.

They still had £19m in revenue in 2020, including £7m in subs. It costs them £19m to run the operation which is quite staggering. Scouts is even larger, with income of £50m.

Guides also have £50m in assets including £28m in property and £5m in other investments.

Wonder what their current membership numbers are...

It is going to take a lot of girls leaving or a significant legal case before anyone in HQ will care...

They make such a song and dance about keeping your training up to date- it's all recorded on Go, you have to keep your DBS up to date.
I've got to update my safe space training (to level 3) as we are, hopefully, going for a weekend away after Christmas, otherwise I won't be allowed to go. (The advisor will check my records to make sure I've done it and will refuse permission if I haven't) and I know several units who have had a last minute scrabble for another leader on a trip as someone's dbs wasn't back on time.

Helen and Katie were sacked ostensibly because of their comments on social media.

And yet- Monica can break all the rules about social media, share children's photos, pose with guns. Monica knows the rules- as a leader and commissioner M will have done the training but choose to ignore it.

What special quality does Monica possess that means the rules don't apply?

Eggybrains yes it is- I've checked.
They just don't give a shit, do they?

'Urgency' and 'rigorous vetting procedures' seem to have fallen the way of 'safeguarding', 'girl', 'woman' in GG land i.e. lost all meaning.