Subscriptions 2023

October 3rd, 2022

Why a rise in subscriptions for the coming year is necessary

As many of you are aware, the topic of the current subscription costs was an important point on the agenda during our AGM in September.  The group has faced a significant increase in our day-to-day running costs, mainly due to the vast increase in rent being charged on the Millennium Hall, and whilst we have tried our best to maintain the current levels of our subscriptions, it is now no longer financially viable for us to continue without an increase.

As this will affect you, the parents, we put several options to the vote during the AGM.  The options and the results are as follows:

1. All subscription costs to align across all sections, in line with the current subscriptions charged for Scouts – this is £12 per head.  This would mean needing a parent-led fundraising committee to be set up to ensure events were held throughout the year allowing remaining deficit to be met.
2. All subscription costs to align across all sections to the value of £15 per head.  This would decrease the need for additional fundraising activities and would likely mean we could continue to meet any funding deficit through current activities (i.e. the Scout Post at Christmas and parent assistance at events such as the annual firework display).
3. To continue with the historical ratio calculation, considering day-to-day costs of each section, head count and activities undertaken.  This would raise Beavers to £11.50, Cubs to £13.50 ad Scouts to £20.50.

The votes were counted as below:

Option A: 6 votes in the room, 0 online
Option B: 11 votes in the room, 1 online.
Option C: 0 votes in the room, 2 online.

As a result of this vote, the subs increase will align to the value of £15 per child across all sections and will apply from January 2023.  Subscriptions will continue to be paid via Direct Debit on 1^st of each month.

This will reduce the need for fundraising activity, but it doesn’t rule this out entirely. There will be further communications from the Committee in relation to future fundraising opportunities offered to the group.

As part of the work the Committee has been doing to drive down the running costs, we have been looking at alternative meeting venues for the Cubs and Scouts.  We have managed to secure Lydiard Millicent Village Hall as this offers a far cheaper hire rate.  The Cub pack will be transitioning over to this hall from 4th November.  Cub parents will be given more details from the Section Leaders in the coming weeks.

We expect the Scouts to move as well, but not immediately.

The move to Lydiard Millicent is the first step in bringing our running costs down and, as a result, we hope that the amount needed from monthly subscriptions will reduce in future years.

If you have any queries relating to any of the above, please do contact the committee or your Section Leader(s) who will be able to advise you moving forward.

Back to news