or is this local club?

[unsureofwhattodo]

A local club which had younger children from 5pm until 6pm and then older children from 6pm until 8pm, has decided to alternate on a weekly basis so that younger children go one week and older children the next - with no reduction in fees. So they go half the time but still have to pay the same. Apparently the extra money will be for a yearly activity that is optional but sometimes poorly attended, so if the children decide not to go/or can't go they will still have paid for it

If you don't like it then don't go!

I just know that I'm going to get the weeks mixed up and with money being very tight I feel that it is no longer value for money. I also feel that it is unfair to have no choice in paying all year for an optional activity. I'm not sure whether to send my DC back.

What type of club is it? This set-up sounds very strange.

That sounds crap - have you spoke to the people who run it? - what do other parents think? If there are enough of you they may reconsider - especially if it means losing people.

It's Beavers/Cubs/Scouts, it's just been announced with no discussion. I was at the AGM and it wasn't brought up then.

Maybe they haven't enough leaders?

That's crazy! Why would people want to keep young ones up late, apart from anything else?

No discussion with the parents anyway, it was decided amongst the leaders.

Is it because they don't have enough leaders to keep them all going every week? If so, volunteer yourself.

Ignore me - I read it as they were all going every week, but alternating the times - d'oh!

Sounds like they haven't got enough leaders to do it every week.

Its not ideal but if that is the only option then what else should they do?

How much does it cost?

I think they are struggling to get people involved and this will reduce the burden on leaders, I would have no complaints if the fees went down accordingly.

I am disabled and can't help out at the moment.

But they still have to pay the same overheads for things like the hall, capitation fees etc.

How much are you paying by the way? Most packs I've known would still be well below market rates for children's activities if they quadrupled their fees.

I understand your annoyance at the fees no going down as you only get half the activity. However they probably have fixed costs like hall usage, registrations (?) etc. I think leaders are all volunteers so don't get paid. Therefore, if they're cutting the meetings down because they haven't enough helpers they will still incur the same level of costs (or nearly). So have no option but to keep subs high.

The extra half of the fees are not going to pay the overheads they are going to pay for the optional yearly camp.

I would imagine some of it will be going towards the overheads, and surely having the camp funded (or part funded) is also handy?

How much do you pay ? I pay £30 per term for cubs- which even if DS went every other week is still good going. Plus pay extra for camps.

YABU

A lot of parents are not keen on their 6 year old beavers camping a 90min drive away - some of them haven't even been on sleepovers without a member of their family.

Tuna - it's £28 per term for beavers.

YANBU but neither are they.

I don't suppose they came to this decision lightly, I'm sure the volunteer leaders will have thought about it but without more help and support from parents, they probably don't have much choice.

You don't have to continue to send your children there if you don't like the new terms.

Sorry but I think you're being extremely unreasonable. Volunteers are working hard to provide your child with a fortnightly fun filled evening plus an annual camping trip with 24 hour care, all for £84 a year and you're moaning about it.

I know I don't have to send my DC but I just wish that there could have been a consultaion about it, and plea to parents for help. There was no discussion of it at the AGM. Two of the leaders have recently left.

What is there to discuss? They are volunteers, they are either prepared/able to give the time and commitment needed or they're not/can't. How many parents came forward to volunteer when the other 2 leaders left?

Panda - it may be okay for the cubs/scouts but most beavers do not go on the camp. BTW I have been a volunteer many times before and know what a thankless task it is - but unfortunately now that I am disabled I am unable to help. I only wish I could help but I can't.