British Groups Abroad
BGA is an English Scout County, supported by the International staff at Gilwell, who operate the UK Programme around the world.
Due to cultural or language barriers (and the fact the people from the UK
living overseas may frequently move around), it is not always possible for
young people from the UK living overseas to join local groups.
This means that is often helpful for there to be a form of British Scouting available abroad, and BGAs are run
from embassies, military bases and British schools.
British Groups Abroad is currently operating 16 Groups in 11 countries ('Districts') throughout the world. At the 2009 census British Groups Abroad had 738 youth members, with nearly 100 adult volunteers.
Training Sections in BGA are identical to those in Groups operating within the UK, and young people follow the same programmes. Leaders are Warranted and follow the adult training programme, although the special circumstances in which they operate call for more flexible adult training and development methods.
BGA County team
The BGA County Team is formed of volunteers, all based in the UK, who support the various Groups within BGA. The team meets regularly, and includes members with specific experience in sectional training, adult training and support, Scout Active Support, and DofE.
The BGA County Team offers the following services:
- Far And Wide: the BGA magazine which supplements SCOUTING magazine.
- BGA essentials: a procedural handbook.
- Programme advice (we can give ideas by airmail and email).
- Adult support and training (wherever possible we will provide training courses outside the UK, but cost is a major concern).
- Insurance: through payment of membership subs; additional insurance is also available.
- Administration of the County: County badges, access to Scout Shops, Advice, census, awards, creation of new Groups etc.
- Liaison with host Scout Associations.
- Advice on how to get involved in national and international events.
- Archives and records of Groups past and present.
Far and Wide
Far and Wide is the magazine of British Groups Abroad. It comes out four times a year and here are a few of the recent editions available as PDFs
2011 - May
2010 - March, September December
2009
- March, June, September, December
2008 - January, April, June
2007 - January, May, June, October
2006 - March
2005 - March, May, September
2004 - February, May, October
2003 - January (750Kb), April (300Kb), August (550Kb), November (300Kb)
2002 - January (450Kb), April (3Mb), July (1Mb), October (500Kb)
2001 - January (650Kb), April (600Kb), July (700Kb), October (350Kb)
2000 - January (600Kb), July (550Kb), October (450Kb)