What do you pay for playgroup?

[ChillyB]

I volunteer running a not for profit playgroup. Every week we have a different theme and I provide sensory activities and/or craft activities each week in line with the theme. Each session includes songs and a story usually too, there’s also time for “free play”.

The session is £2 for 2 hours. I provide drinks and a small snack within this price (small cake or cheese and biscuits and crudités).

I have just been updating the groups accounts and I can’t continue to run at this price. It’s costing on average £60 per week to run (a large chunk of these average costs have been buying replacement toys or new materials as we had very little to work with when I took the group on so we’re getting there but £2 is still not going to be enough long term when I need to replace items
or buy more paint etc).

I’m at the point of either needing to increase my price or make cuts elsewhere(no snacks or simplify the offering).

Do you go to any groups like this?
What do you pay?
What do you think is a fair price point? We’re in the north of England if that makes any difference to the above.

Usually £2 - £3 a session for these kinds of groups, i'm in the south east.
Things like baby sensory etc were obviously a good bit more 😳

They're usually 2 hours - 2.5 hours and have a craft, and song time at the end.
Snacks provided in my area are universally grapes, banana slices and mini breadsticks!

No more than £3. 50 for 2 hours and the one we attend at this price is set in several rooms one of which is a sensory room so offers something that couldn't be replicated at home.

Unfortunately if you increased the price much more you would likely find you made even less money as you would attract less parents.

Have you looked into funding, grants, donations etc?

£5 for 90 mins
With 1 craft activity
Multiple tables with toys, water table, sand table
Snacks
Story time

@Beees yes, we’ve had a financial donation recently which has cleared the groups debts to me -I’ve been subsidising everyone’s play by quite a considerable amount when I look over the accounts.

I’m looking into the possibility of accessing council/community grants at the moment to take us forward but they aren’t always quick.

Yes, we’ve had kind toy donations too thankfully. Everything I’ve sourced and paid for toy wise has been second hand purchases too.

£2.50 for 2 hours, custard cream and water. Tea / coffee for the adults.

They don't need cheese and crudités as a snack!

I’ve been subsidising everyone’s play by quite a considerable amount when I look over the accounts.

Im going to be honest it doesn't actually sound like the group is financially viable. Even if you raise the price it does not sound like the group will be breaking even let alone being in profit. It's probably more sensible to let it close.

The group I go to costs £2.50 which includes tea/coffee and a biscuit, but parents/carers are asked to bring their own snack for the kids. Includes craft activity, selection of toys, singing and story time. Can you survey your members about whether they'd prefer a price increase or some kind of cost saving (like asking attendees to bring snacks rather than providing them)?

@Beees that’s a fair comment and a useful reality check - thank you for your honesty.

I pay £3 for 2 hours, no snacks or drinks - you have to buy them separately.

Can you keep the price but charge for refreshments eg. 50p a tea or coffee or people can bring their own but you won't have the cost of them. I'd also recommend writing to your county Councillor as they usually have community funds and always looking for local groups to support.

The one I go to takes donations- but no obligation. I reckon they have funding from somewhere though.
The area I am in is very mixed in terms of wealth and my guess is there might be some families who attend might struggle to afford to pay.

I probably wouldn't pay much more than £2 to go somewhere like that regularly- maybe £3.

Perhaps rather than increasing regular price you could ask for donations towards specific toys etc? Or just do it more of a one off thing? Are you in a wealthy area?
Could you talk to some of the regular parents and ask what they think?

@GreenRainbowSun its a really mixed bag area some quite well heeled and others who are likely just keeping their heads above water.

The group is very popular, to the point I’ve had to introduce a booking system to make sure we don’t breach fire regulations and we’re always booked up. If spaces become
available they are always filled too.
It’s just not sustaining itself financially sadly, so I either cut the costs as best I can, raise the costs or stop running. I need to make a decision ultimately and it’s helpful to find out what other similar groups charge or do to make an informed decision.