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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked at the price of Beavers?

83 replies

12ylnon · 14/01/2013 13:02

Just had to turn down a place for DS at beavers today because it was just too expensive :( I'd been looking forward to him doing it for such a long time too!
£30 for the term- £180 a year. Well there is only four weeks in this term and next term so thats a whopping £7.50 per session. Uniform is another £30ish quid on top of that and the whole price doesn't include trips.
Am i being a massive cheapskate? I just think thats an insane amount to charge for 45 mins of play and activities!

OP posts:
PessaryPam · 14/01/2013 13:54

Tee2072 I am a Brit and it made me giggle too.

TartyMcTart · 14/01/2013 13:56

Wow, we are lucky. I've just paid for a term at cubs and it was the princely sum of £15! It should be £20 per term but we got money off as it's only DS' s second term.

£60 a year is fantastic for this out of school club. I think Beavers, Cubs and Brownies are great and the leaders do a fab job. My son loves it!

BadRoly · 14/01/2013 14:02

I'm intrigued at the idea of fees! I can claim expenses (brownie leader) as can dh (cub leader) but they need to be receipts for expenses such as equipment for the meeting. And generally it's too much hassle so we don't bother...

YorkshireDeb · 14/01/2013 14:08

Am I the only filthy minded person who was expecting something completely different on a thread about the cost of beavers? Snigger! X

BadRoly · 14/01/2013 14:10

Read it all back now and see that it was a mistake thinking we get paid Grin

I pay £15 per term for Rainbows, £23 per term for Guides and £1.80 per week for Scouts/Cubs/Beavers.

We charge £2 per week or £18 per term for Brownies plus £10 towards census (£25) this term. I have one Brownie who has never paid. It is not her fault and I don't think she should miss out because her parents can't or won't pay.

Groovee · 14/01/2013 15:43

the leaders and helpers get a fee. where on earth did you hear that? Its run by volunteers who do not get paid.

OP it's likely a term is Summer to Christmas, Jan to Easter, then Easter to summer. Our scout group charges everyone £50 a year. We pay half of any costs of trips.

Ragwort · 14/01/2013 16:28

Another Leader - can I claim my 'fees' - over 30 years Grin - only joking (well, not about the 30 years!) ....... its a great organisation and glad its getting some publicity on Mumsnet.

By the way, both Scouting and Guiding are always looking for new leaders, they are great organisations to volunteer for, the training is excellent (and you get camping holidays Grin). All the skills learned look great on your CV too,

Meglet · 14/01/2013 16:36

Tee I'm a Brit but I still smirk when I talk about DS going to Beavers Grin.

Yes, Beavers is very good value for money. £30 a term, DS loves going and bounces out happy as a sandboy.

BartletForTeamGB · 14/01/2013 16:39

In case anyone is interested...

www.girlguiding.org.uk/get_involved/volunteer/register_your_interest.aspx

KumquatMae · 14/01/2013 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kinkyfuckery · 14/01/2013 16:50

Our Beavers (and Cubs and Scouts) are £2 a session, payable termly (unless arranged otherwise). The only uniform we ask is a sweater (most are bought on ebay, or given secondhand) and a necker and woggle (currently given free of charge, but we're going to review that). The only other cost to our Beavers is a once-a-year overnight camp. I think we were £15 this year and the kids had to bring a packed lunch for first day.
And no, there's no 'fee' for leaders here.

Tee2072 · 14/01/2013 16:53

I mean, of all the animals they could have picked...

In the US they just start with Cubs!

RubberBullets · 14/01/2013 17:04

Bartlet I was just about to post that link :)

Yes, adult volunteers are always wanted. If being a leader is too difficult to commit to then there are lots of other roles that don't require weekly meetings. Ideal for when you can't make every week

FunnysInLaJardin · 14/01/2013 17:06

we have had this before and it's to do with confusion over what a term is! It's quite reasonable really Grin

OnwardBound · 14/01/2013 17:15

I think £7.50 per session sounds very reasonable actually.

But then I do live in London where any activities are extortionate.

I was looking into a local Montessori playgroup for my two sons. The session lasts two hours and I would have to stay to toilet DS2 as he is not yet potty trained. Fair enough.

It sounded good, they do songs and stories and various Montessori themed activities. I thought the boys would enjoy it and might even help with their behaviour and development.

But then I was told the cost - £20 per session... PER CHILD!

So £40 for a two hour activity for two children Shock And you had to commit to a term of this. So roughly £160 per month.

For that I'd want jugglers and clowns and a foot massage for Mum thank you very much!

exoticfruits · 14/01/2013 17:21

I doubt if you would get anything cheaper than Beavers.

BackforGood · 14/01/2013 17:30

Having had 3 dc involved with various activities over many, many years, Beavers/Cubs/Scouts/Explorers has always been by far and away the cheapest, and best value for money thing they've done.

Even if it were "just" childcare, then it's cheaper than CMs or Nurseries around here, but they actually do SO much, it's amazing vfm.
Oh, and the uniform is only £11ish for the sweatshirt and some groups give the necker, others charge, but that will still only make it £14ish - nowhere near the £30 you mention.

Oblomov · 14/01/2013 17:39

Beavers £7 per mth. Cubs £8 per mth. Surrey.
Is the chepaest club I know of - compared to swimming, any dance classes, karate etc.

VestaCurry · 14/01/2013 17:41

Ours is £50 per term.

exoticfruits · 14/01/2013 17:43

We used to keep ours cheap by doing fetes etc but unfortunately parents didn't want to give up time and they were canvassed and preferred to put up the subs- I thought it was sad for those who struggled for money and I would not have asked them and continued the arm twisting to get them to help.

Sirzy · 14/01/2013 17:47

exotic St John Ambulance is cheaper in some areas of the country. In some areas they are charged as little as 50p a week with lots charging just £1!

Boggler · 14/01/2013 17:50

We pay £30 per term, for three terms due September, January and April. So it only works out £90 per year. The buck if the subs goes to cover the insurance premium and the rest towards craft materials and treats such as group barbecue etc. My son loved it and has moved up to cubs and hopefully will go on to scouts. I'd rather him do that than stay in on the xbox which he'd want to do if cubs wasn't on. I know sone people find it hard to get £30 together and in my sons group some pay weekly roughly £1.50 a week.

Pancakeflipper · 14/01/2013 17:50

I have just bought a cubs uniform and we got the polo shirt, sweatshirt and neckerchief for £24.00.
Subs is £25 a term. And it's amazing value compared to other activities.

whensteaready · 14/01/2013 17:52

Just have to share this,
My son brought home a letter from beavers about an outing, the leader said,
"No need to bring anything other than a willing beaver"
Still makes me chuckle now.

DizzyHoneyBee · 14/01/2013 17:52

£9.50 a month here for Beavers/Cubs/Scouts.

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