FAQS
Q - Why join OB-PS?
You should join OB-PS if you want to help girls and young women develop their fullpotential. Girls and young women can make a big difference in their society, in their family, in their local community or in their country if we give them the chance to develop life skills, self-esteem and leadership skills.
If you join OB-PS through a donation you will actively support the important work of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). With your donation and other donations WAGGGS can reach many more girls and young women around the world who today are at a disadvantage in health, education, selfchoice and life expectancy. This could change the world of tomorrow. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has the network which can make changes to the lives of girls through non-formal education, projects, and activities.
Q - What benefits do I get from joining?
You will have the opportunity to receive your membership badge and certificate from HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the Patron of the Society’. You will at your own expense be able to attend an annual OB-PS event held somewhere round the world. At the annual meetings you will get an update on what
WAGGGS is doing; meet other OB-PS-members, meet Girl Guides/Girl Scouts of that country, and have an opportunity to do some special sightseeing in that country.
These events bring together people who believe in the same ideals of development of girls and young women. Some are business men or business women who have been successful in their own right; some have been directly involved in Girl
Guiding/Girl Scouting; many have held leadership positions in their community or government; and all are interesting and interested people.
Q – Is it necessary to have been a Girl Guide/Girl Scout before becoming a member?
No- it is not. - Anyone who wants to support the development of girls and young women through the work of WAGGGS and who have chosen to pay the membership donation, (or has one paid on their behalf) can join the society. This may be people with Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting involvement, or non-Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting people who support the ideal of helping the development of girls and young women, worldwide.
Some OB-PS-members who want to support WAGGGS even more choose to make somebody else from their family, such as a daughter, a husband or a sister, a member of OB-PS.
Q – How is the money spent?
Membership donations to the Olave Baden-Powell Society are spent in different ways. Some of the money (donated to the Endowment Fund and therefore earning interest) will support the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to maintain its infrastructure and to carry out vital projects financed from other sources. Money donated to the Operating Fund supports ongoing work including WAGGGS projects.
Q - How much of my donation will be used for administration?
The OB-PS Board is constantly trying to keep down the administration costs in order to maximise the support to WAGGGS. All Board members, and our Patron, pay their own costs of travel and accommodation, so the only administrative expenses relate to staff (less than one full-time-equivalent role) based in London.
The Society also pay its part of the management costs of the investment portfolio of WAGGGS – a prudent and necessary part of managing money on behalf of a charity. The total administration rate in OB-PS is currently around 14% of total funds generated annually and will probably be reduced in the years to come
The Society also pay its part of the management costs of the investment portfolio of WAGGGS – a prudent and necessary part of managing money on behalf of a charity. The total administration rate in OB-PS is currently around 14% of total funds generated annually and will probably be reduced in the years to come
Q - Who decides how the money is used?
The Board of The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which has 18 volunteer members from all over the world, decides how the money from OP-PS should be spent, unless the donor has already specified what they want their donation used for (restricted funds).
There are different ways to donate money to OB-PS. Donations to the Operating Fund supports ongoing work in WAGGGS including projects. Donations to the Endowment Fund will be kept in this fund and the investment income will be transferred to WAGGGS.
In addition, the World Board of WAGGGS chooses which leadership and girl-focused projects to organise and support globally, and the OB-PS Board makes one or two of these special annual targets for additional donations by members.
Q – Why should I donate to this charity, rather than others?
You should donate to WAGGGS through a membership of OB-PS because the effect of your money will be multiplied. – An example: if you support 1 paid leader/trainer she will be able to train maybe 100-200 volunteer leaders, each of whom again can work with 25-50 girls or young women.
That is because this charity directly supports an active, effective organisation involving some 10 million members. Projects undertaken by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are implemented either by the world organisation, or its member organisations. This implementation network is ALREADY in place, so there is a guaranteed ‘notional return’ on funds invested through the Olave Baden-Powell Society: direct application of donations to where they gain results. It is a long-term investment in girls and young women.
Q – How often do I have to give?
When you choose to become a member and have made your donation, it is absolutely optional to make any further donations. You are a member for life. There are, however, several additional opportunities for supporting WAGGGS through OBPS such as annual donations or appeals for specific projects.
Q – Can I donate annually?
You can choose to pay the £6000 over 5 years. There will however be an additional administrative fee of £600 to be paid by the first instalment.
Q – Can I be recognized for a more significant donation?
You can have a special recognition for a donation of more that £25,000 over the years. Donors with this amount of donation or more are recognised and honoured through the presentation of the Princess Benedikte Award. This is a small gold and enamel brooch (or lapel pin for men) which recognises this special generosity.
Q – How do I join?
You act now! Using the form available from a Coordinator in your country, or on the website (www.ob-ps.org), you send your personal details and funds to the World Bureau, office of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, in London, UK. You can make your donation in one of several ways:
- A single donation of the full amount of £6,000
- Five equal donations over five years, totalling the full amount plus an administration fee of £600 in the first payment
- A legacy of £12,000 under special conditions in your will, plus an administration fee of £600. Your membership is effective from the time documentation is received
- A life-insurance policy of £18,000, plus an administration fee of £600membership is effective from the time documentation is received
Note: some countries have made special arrangements to allow benefits to the donors, so you should enquire about these.
Q – Can I bring my partner/friend/family member to an annual event?
Yes! Each member is welcome to bring guests to the Annual Event. The process is the same as for members – all costs are paid by the people attending. Guests do not need to attend the Members’ Meetings held at that event, but are welcome to.
Q - Can my membership be passed on to another person?
If the member is no longer able to attend annual events, someone else is welcome to attend in their place. The membership, however, remains in the original name.
Q – Can I cancel my membership?
The initial donation amount (£6,000) confers membership for life. There are no further obligations. Should you, however, choose to resign from the Society, no further correspondence or communication will be sent to you, if that is your request.
Q – How can I be sure the funds are taken care of and being spent on the right things?
WAGGGS has an up-to-date organization with a Board and registered elected Trustees who will use the money in the best possible way for girls and young women world wide. For donations for restricted purposes the WAGGGS office in London, with the Chief Financial Officer, will see that the money is spent correctly. Finally the accounts of the World Association, including Olave Baden-Powell Society, are audited according to UK charities law.
The investment portfolio of WAGGGS including the Endowment Fund is managed by professional investment managers according to an agreed Investment Policy in WAGGGS.
The investment portfolio of WAGGGS including the Endowment Fund is managed by professional investment managers according to an agreed Investment Policy in WAGGGS.
Q – Why would I want to join the Olave Baden-Powell Society, when I am already a Baden Powell Fellow?
You should join The Olave Baden-Powell Society if you agree that generally speaking girls group most at risk from cultural approaches to education, health, sexual choices, and family responsibility. Nearly twice as many girls receive no or limited education thanboys. There is an urgent need to change the position of girls in all cultures, to givethem an equal chance at education, health, and life expectancy.
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts focuses specifically on girls and young need support. According to UN data, girls and young women are the women, and projects that involve them in health, education, and global leadership development.
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts focuses specifically on girls and young need support. According to UN data, girls and young women are the women, and projects that involve them in health, education, and global leadership development.
Q - How many OB-PS members are there?
More than 850 people have made the decision to donate to the Olave Baden-Powell Society – and the target is 1000 members by 2009.
Q - Why is the society called The Olave Baden-Powell Society?
When Robert, Lord Baden-Powell founded Scouting (for boys) in 1907, girls wanted to join too. He asked his sister, then his wife, Olave Baden-Powell, to work particularly with the girls, and to lead the girls’ organisation.
The Society is named in honour of Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, for her focus on improving the way girls and young women round the world are able to access life and personal skills through Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting non-formal education.
The funds donated to OB-PS honour her memory by supporting the diverse and wide-spread work of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in some 150 countries.
The Society is named in honour of Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, for her focus on improving the way girls and young women round the world are able to access life and personal skills through Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting non-formal education.
The funds donated to OB-PS honour her memory by supporting the diverse and wide-spread work of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in some 150 countries.
Q - If I want to promote the Olave Baden-Powell Society to friends or family or my business network, where can I get the relevant information and membership packs?
Information and membership forms are available through the WAGGGS website or the OB-PS website.