We only charged 50% fees for 2020, because the letter to parents was delayed and we were already in COVID restrictions. Membership secretary totally totally fucked up last year though as it was supposed to go out in November not April, and we had to pay census and insurance to HQ in Jan....so we paid out 14,000 but only got 6,000 in subs. (And that 6k also had to cover electricity, oil for heating, bins, materials for boat work/maintenance, and replacing worn out gear as well as some running costs for each of 4 sections, and training for leaders - which was effectively shelved for the year).
This year, request went out in November as we cannot register anyone who hasn't paid - registration is end Jan.
Last year, 3 sections mostly stopped but 1 Cub pack met on zoom weekly (other Cub pack managed some different remote activities) from March to June.
We met in person in July, and Scouts managed to get boating relatively actively all summer. Both Cub packs also got boating in September (Cubs alwaYs stop for summer and leaders needed the break as all worked throughout).
Both Cubs packs extended their boating season from end Sept to end Oct (when some were starting to feel the cold and not all have wetsuits to keep going later) so had the same number of sessions as most years (normally spread over May, June and Sept but bank holidays and summer camp interfere).
The way our restrictions worked in the autumn, we could meet outdoors in pods of 15 so 2 Patrols at a time. 1 Cub pack ran 2 back to back sessions on their usual morning, the other moved from a weeknight to 1 Saturday morning and 1 Sunday afternoon session to cover their 2 pods. So we both had a full, if different, normal programme in person - just no hikes or overnight trips.
Scouts mostly continued to do boating until early December, and they managed some theory work in small groups outdoors at the den. But they have suffered more compared to Cubs with keeping active and keeping members .
Our Group Leader held meetings with Scout Leaders earlier this week and Cub Leaders this morning, to organise ourselves and keep active. We don't have spare funds so need to charge full fees this year.
But we had managed a reasonably full program last year - only missing 3 weeks at the start of lockdown and our overnight/hike events. And we plan as good a programme as is possible - it will be different but it will still be Scouting.
We still have to pay full fees and insurance to HQ. We still have to pay to maintain the boats, empty the bins, etc. We had some savings on electricity and oil over the year, but a lot more on PPE (gloves, hand sanitiser, paper towels, etc) than we'd normally spend on just soap and loo rolls.
So we are charging full fees.
We are a voluntary organisation and if we have no money in the bank, we MUST fold.
As always though, we will cover the fees for those who are financially unable but still want to be part of the Group. But that is a confidential matter between the Treasurer and those families - no other Leader is aware of who has or has not paid.
And in terms of the Cub pack I run, we normally ask €20 per Cub per term (instead of €2 per meeting) to cover our incidentals. Like the first Necker for each Cub when they are invested, T-shirt for each Cub on camp, peaked cap for the final year Cubs (recognising their seniority), all badges, craft materials (including some tech bits of we do a design-a-thon or proper artist boards for our annual art lesson with local professional artist (she gives her time free)), prizes for competitions and odd treats needed, the food for end of year party and if we do back woods cooking day, rope for knot work, sunscreen for those who forget it on camp and boating, card for the Cubs to make thank yous for people who have done something with Cubs etc etc etc....
In 2020, we had collected this for term 1, but we didn't collect it for either of the other terms and managed with what we had. Some costs didn't arise because of the year it was, but we still had badges, end of year picnic (so more expensive to have individual bags of goodies for each Cub not big sharing bowls in the Den) and PPE for out in the woods.
So I hope to keep this low again this year but we'll need some to cover the costs.
And as a Leader, I have purchased a zoom licence personally almost entirely for use by Cubs (I could manage my other needs in the free version) and not charged the Group that cost. And the paid Dropbox also for Cubs so the Leaders can manage the paperwork (I have a lot of resources stored there that we can use both for Scouting in person and Scouting remotely as well as the necessary admin stuff - which is enough on its own!!).
And all this as a volunteer.