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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think doubling the price will mean the group closes?

218 replies

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 09:56

A small problem granted but I'm wondering if it's reasonable to think this is exactly what will happen?

I've attended a toddler group with my child since last September when it started running. It's held in community building so doesn't actually cost those running it anything for the space and they have been fortunate to get lots of toys and resources donated however despite this I appreciate there is the cost of the time given by those volunteering to run the group.

The group costs £2.50 per child and whilst lovely it's never been exceptionally popular, most weeks they have between 10-15 people. This is likely because it's quite a deprived area and there are many groups here that run for free or a very nominal donation supported by lottery funding or local support services. This group is probably one of the most expensive of its type in the area but I like the atmosphere, those running it are lovely and so I've no problem paying.

However this morning out of the blue we've received an email saying the price is doubling to £5 per child starting immediately with tomorrow's session. I really want to support the group and to help it keep running but am really surprised at such a huge increase in price and can't help feeling that this is going to mean tomorrow's group is probably going to be the last one. Am I being pessimistic or would you feel the same?

OP posts:

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/02/2022 10:45

This was where Sure Start was brilliant. I used to pay £1 a child for Stay and Play, Messy group, Garcening group, Music group etc. Even did a Baby First Aid course for £10. All free for the lowest incomes.

On the other hand I've been on the other side with the finances of a community hall... all the savings nearly disappeared during Covid. Fortunately the Council did reduce the council tax and we got a grant which replenished the savings.

Hankunamatata · 03/02/2022 10:47

It's been about 6 years since I 2as last at toddler groups but they were always about a £1. Kids got juice and slice of toast, adults got cuppa and biscuit.

Original poster

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 10:49

When you say most weeks they have between 10-15 people, do you mean 10-15 adults paying adults with perhaps 10-20 children on top of that or do you mean 5 or so paying adults with 5-10 children?

Each child attending the group paid £2.50 so the cost was based on the amount of children not the adults. Most weeks there are no more than 15 children at the group this includes some siblings, some little babies who I presume absolutely won't come any more as their children are not old enough to make use of everything on offer and also some toddlers. The most children the group has ever had on one day is about 20 children.

OP posts:

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 03/02/2022 10:52

I used to help run a toddler group when DD was small (so about 13 years ago). I think we used to charge £1.50 for the first child, 50p each for siblings so even allowing for inflation this seems pretty high.

But we definitely had to pay for hire of the village hall, plus insurance plus coffee for adults, toast and snacks for the children, craft supplies etc. Maybe the cost of all those have gone up? With the massive increase in fuel costs I can't imagine any community spaces being completely free anymore.

(Or maybe the people running it have had enough of running it with no help from the parents and are hoping to drive parents away so that they can close it!)

steppemum · 03/02/2022 10:52

I am also surprised they charge per child.
Most I went to charged per family.

As the parents drank the tea and ate the biscuits that seemed fair

But seriously , 2 kids =£10 for a toddler group? Who can afford that?

Hawkins001 · 03/02/2022 10:54

Tis unusual

JustUseTheDoorSanta · 03/02/2022 10:57

It would be very unusual to charge for babies, are you sure they do?

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 03/02/2022 10:57

The local halls around here are £25 per hour to hire. If a toddler group is on for 3 hours they need an hour to setup and an hour to pack down, so 4-5 hours. £100-£125 just for hall hire. Plus tea, coffee, milk, sugar, juice, snacks -maybe £10. Plus outlay on toys, books, craft materials etc. Then a team of volunteers to run it.

You can easily see it could cost £150 a week to run. You’d need 100 paying visitors to charge £1.50

This is why few toddler groups survive in village halls. They can’t charge the price they need to to run.

Toddler groups run by churches etc are subsided by the church. They do it as part of their community work, and support for their own members. They typically own building outright and absorb heating costs, and charge a nominal fee to cover refreshments and craft materials. They typically have a hoard of willing ladies they can recruit to volunteer.

I wouldn’t pay £5 either, but I can understand that toddler groups charging £1.50 are either funded by charity or someone somewhere being generous.

FWIW my husband is part of a charity that runs one, and I had a friend try to start one. Sadly the friend couldn’t muster the volunteers despite being given hall space for free.

Original poster

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 10:59

@JustUseTheDoorSanta

It would be very unusual to charge for babies, are you sure they do?

Yes all children are charged for. The price is the same for a baby as it is for a 4 year old.

OP posts:

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 03/02/2022 11:00

@NotMuchNotice

When you say most weeks they have between 10-15 people, do you mean 10-15 adults paying adults with perhaps 10-20 children on top of that or do you mean 5 or so paying adults with 5-10 children?

15 x £2.50 is £37.50. The max income wouldn’t cover two hours hall hire in most places.

£5 x £15 might, but no parents will pay it.

Whinge · 03/02/2022 11:02

Yes all children are charged for. The price is the same for a baby as it is for a 4 year old.

Wow i'm surprised they've lasted as long as they have. Is there a discount for siblings at all? Paying the same price for a baby and a 4 year old is madness.

Cyclingforcake · 03/02/2022 11:02

Ours is £2/ family run by some lovely older ladies who the children adore. One week I turned up in fashionably ripped jeans and forgot my purse and they let me in for free as they assumed I couldn’t afford it. I was extremely embarrassed (and paid double the following week!). Donations cover the cost of the biscuits and the heating/lighting of the hall.

JustUseTheDoorSanta · 03/02/2022 11:02

That's ridiculous then, and massively out of step with most areas. Have you had a look around to see what else is available? There may be other playgroups on somewhere nearby, for £5 you can go to soft play here where you begrudge the money a bit less due to them being shattered by the end of the 2 hours, or there are a few activity classes where you then get tea afterwards with the other parents.

GrannytoaUnicorn · 03/02/2022 11:04

I'm going to speculate that they even if they don't pay for the hall, they will be contributing towards energy bills and given the imminent almost doubling of these costs, they somehow feel it's justified to double the price?? Although the price hikes apparently don't begin until April so maybe not.

Either way, actually doubling a price with no explanation is not on. Especially in a deprived area with a group that almost certainly will have some low income families attending. There may be young children all excited to go whilst their parent/s are wondering if they can spare it and with a day's notice....
Bang out of order.

Original poster

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 11:06

Wow i'm surprised they've lasted as long as they have. Is there a discount for siblings at all? Paying the same price for a baby and a 4 year old is madness.

I don't know if there was an initial discount but the email now says additional children will be charged at half price so you'll now pay £5 for 1 and £2.50 for the second.

I was always surprised those with small babies paid to attend but there was a few of them.

OP posts:

SartresSoul · 03/02/2022 11:07

It may be fine for those with one child who can afford it but some people (like me) have two toddlers, others may even have three or four if they have two sets of twins for example.

I wanted to do a local art group last year because I love art and it sounded fantastic, until they told me the price. It was £60 per child per term so it would have been £120 for me and a term was 6 weeks I think. This didn’t even include the art supplies, they wanted you to buy those separately! I shockingly refused but it’s a popular group in our area. Crazy when you can buy a pack of paints for £2.50 in wilko.

Peachandpearl · 03/02/2022 11:07

I couldn't afford to pay that. I do think that they might have had their Costs increase so that their either have to charge more or close, and unfortunately that may mean them closing. But as much as their costs are going up, so are everyone else's.
Groups I've been to have been free, or up to about £1.50 (most I've spent is £3 and that was £1.50 each for 2 DC).

PrtScn · 03/02/2022 11:16

Maybe they are fed up of running the group and are self sabotaging

Original poster

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 11:20

But as much as their costs are going up, so are everyone else's.

I sort of feel similar. If it's a case of the costs increasing it would have been sensible to include that in the email. I appreciate to some it's not a lot of money but around here I do think they will find it hard to encourage people to attend. The price will absolutely prevent some of those who have been every week attending.

OP posts:

Monopolyiscrap · 03/02/2022 11:21

I have never come across a community building that is free to use. All charge hire rates. It is how the community buildings survive. They also have insurance to pay.

Original poster

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 11:23

@Monopolyiscrap

I have never come across a community building that is free to use. All charge hire rates. It is how the community buildings survive. They also have insurance to pay.

The building in question is a church.

OP posts:

NYnewstart · 03/02/2022 11:26

I wonder how many will turn up.

MrsHGWells · 03/02/2022 11:26

Sadly community playgroups suffer from lack of general funding (charity or paying patrons), group a face rental hikes / contributions, heating (heating halls is extremely expensive!), not to mention volunteers, cleaning bills, time setting up etc.

Would you offer the Group services for £37.50 for each session. Including tea and biscuits. YABU

I suggest the exec have reviewed the financials at a meeting and realised the immediate need to enforce an increase due to hall hire pressure. Unfortunately the messaging may be lagged behind directives.

Original poster

NotMuchNotice · 03/02/2022 11:29

@NYnewstart

I wonder how many will turn up.

I'm sceptical any will attend to be honest. I know even though I could afford it I really can't justify going when there are multiple other groups running nearby on the same day for free or much less.

I'm just hoping every one has checked their emails before taking their children tomorrow and finding out at the door.

OP posts:

Iluvperegrines · 03/02/2022 11:32

Often churches charge enough to cover snacks because they are using the playgroup as part of their ministry.

If the church are not running the group themselves the group must be hiring it from them?

But weird to charge people to come to outreach sessions ..

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