Girlguiding Bermuda faces an uncertain future after the parent organisation in Britain announced the closure of overseas operations.

Bermuda’s branch of the leadership and personal development programme for girls and young women was founded in 1919.

Roslyn Simmons, the island commissioner, said the abrupt news from Girlguiding UK had caused “uproar in the international Girlguiding community”, but added that Bermuda’s members were determined to find a way to keep going.

“Everybody is upset by it, especially the leaders,” she said.

“I keep telling the leaders just to have their meetings as normal. One of the leaders has lost girls to other youth groups because there is no certainty.

“With or without Girlguiding UK, we are going forward. We are our own charity in Bermuda. We will have been here 105 years this June.”

Girlguiding UK first announced the decision to fold its operations abroad last April, “based on the charity’s future ability to run an overseas operation in 36 countries and territories, each with separate laws and regulations” — although the move has been contested since.

Initially it stated that its overseas operations would cease on September 1, 2023.

However, the organisation decided in June to allow the British Overseas Territories until the end of 2023, “so that we could continue to work together with volunteers in the areas on opportunities for girls”.

Its website added: “Together with commissioners in the British Overseas Territories, we've been working together to develop options for the UK board of trustees to consider.

“The trustees will make a decision by the end of this year based on the options brought forward from this group.”

A further extension for the Overseas Territories came on November 27, when Girlguiding UK said it would continue for the OTs “into the first few months of 2024”.

The organisation said it was looking for “any new way we may be delivering Girlguiding in the future”.

Ms Simmons said Girlguiding Bermuda’s latest deadline was until the end of March 2024, but that the group had been under uncertainty since the first announcement.

“One of the issues around this is the guiding community does not feel it was properly consulted.”

On November 30, the Bermuda London Office highlighted the closure after it was raised in the UK House of Commons.

Jim Shannon, an MP in the Democratic Unionist Party, decried the “catastrophic” impact on young women of “the proposed devastating decision” by Girlguiding UK to sell off the UK centres and cease direct delivery of Girlguiding to the Overseas Territories.

Ms Simmons, along with former island commissioner Felicity Lunn, told The Royal Gazette last week that the UK decision had stunned Bermuda officials.

Ms Lunn said: “It came to us out of the blue in an e-mail.

“Up until now, we have paid our membership. There are guidelines from the UK for the youth leaders, which we have followed rigorously.”

She added: “We have never been any sort of financial burden to Britain.”

Ms Simmons said that the UK office “announced its decision to cut overseas ties, citing risk management”.

Both women, near-lifelong members of the organisation, said that while Girlguiding Bermuda had been invited to merge with the Scouts, the organisation wanted to remain distinct as its own entity.

“We want to stay together — that’s our goal, as best we can,” Ms Simmons said.

“Giving service and helping others is learnt in the Girlguides. You’re always doing something for other people.”

Lord and Lady Baden-Powell began guiding internationally in 1910. It was broken by age into Brownies, Rainbows, Guides, Rangers and Scouts.

Ms Simmons said that while Girlguiding in Bermuda had declined in popularity, it still enjoyed a membership of about 100 young people on the island.

Ms Lunn added: “I have seen the development of young ladies from when they were little girls.

“It builds character. You learn new skills and you learn how to be a team player.

“There are many women in positions of responsibility in Bermuda who come from a guiding background.”

A time capsule for the organisation was buried in the grounds of Government House in 2004 to mark the 85th anniversary of girlguiding, containing its constitution, badges, photographs and other information from all the island’s guide units.

It is to remain sealed until 2044 when it will be opened to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the guide movement in Bermuda.

Ms Simmons said Girlguiding Bermuda intended to remain in existence to see it.

However, the island branch of the organisation, if it were to go it alone, would lose the system of badges and educational qualifications that come with being part of the international body, as well as being able to compete with other groups overseas.

“I have been in guiding since I was 10, and now I’m 62,” Ms Simmons said. “It’s how I learnt about the outdoors.

“I planned on being with it until I could not do it any more. I would never have thought we would cease.”

Girlguiding Bermuda faces tough decisions but could remain beyond the March 2024 extension if adopted by one of the UK counties.

Ms Lunn said: “At this point, I am just a concerned onlooker.

“But we are very determined — and I know there are senior guiding people in the UK that are fighting our corner.”