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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:

RidingMyBike · 04/02/2022 19:47

Also, my old church used to pay a cleaner weekly to give hall, kitchen and toilets a good clean, taking about 2-3 hours to do a good job of it.

Since Covid they've had to increase that to every time a group has been in to use the hall so the cost is much higher now!

Islandgirl68 · 04/02/2022 19:59

Is that per week, that is very expensive. When we were in that situation it was a very small fee to cover the room hire and coffee etc. That seems very expensive especially if they don't pay for the room. Many parents would not be able to afford that. Toddler groups used to be the cheapest things on offer..

LoisLane66 · 04/02/2022 20:09

Ask why they've increased the fee, not just about why it increased to double the amount but why ANY increase and for what reason.
It's weird not to give reasonable notice of these things, not like..oh, tomorrow the price doubles. There must be a reason so ask.

Funmum2020 · 04/02/2022 20:15

I used to run a toddler group, I had to have insurance affiliation, room hire and the cost of food and drinks all that was charged was 1.50 ! There was also Grant's and funding given £5 is way to much and without notice too

dottymac · 04/02/2022 20:18

Have they said why they're doubling the price? I voluntarily run a community toddler group, 2 sessions a week. We need about £35 a week just to cover hall rental/insurance/snack/crafts/messy play supplies etc. I know you said they don't pay for the hall but maybe there's some other hidden costs. I do agree though that £5 is too much. We charge only £2.50 and provide healthy varied snacks and well thought out themes and quality toys but we may have to increase our prices at some point as some weeks are quieter than others and if we can't cover our costs then everyone will lose out if we shut down. But people will vote with their feet so 🤷 I wonder if you could voice your concerns and say that something like£3.50 would be more manageable or suggest some fundraising. We did a book sale before Xmas that raised us a few extra pounds and are.planning a clothes one soon too. We also applied for community funds to support us. Hopefully it will all work out, people don't realise how much work can go in to running a decent playgroup and it'd be a shame for the kiddies and carers to miss out, we've all suffered enough these last few years. 😥

sausageandchamp · 04/02/2022 20:21

Wow- that's a lot. Have you asked why the increase is so much?

I go to 2 or 3 toddler groups a week (help run one), at 3 different churches. All cost between 50p-£1.50, with babies free. We're given a hot drink and biscuit, and there is a simple craft for the kids. These groups supplement the more expensive ones in my week, such as gymnastics (£8/9) or swimming. I wouldn't pay £5 for a toddler group- unless the crafts were excellent and purposeful and my child absolutely loved it.

Saltyquiche · 04/02/2022 20:23

£5 per session would be give them £50 to £75 per week.

Saltyquiche · 04/02/2022 20:26

I wonder if the answer is to have more footfall but charge less, say £3

sociallydistained · 04/02/2022 20:27

I go to multiple groups in a wealthy area (nothing is cheap except the playgroups) and it costs £1 the most expensive group is £1.50. £5 I'd be putting towards an actual activity or class!

Whinge · 04/02/2022 20:35

@Saltyquiche

£5 per session would be give them £50 to £75 per week.

But it won't be £50-£75 a week. The OPs point is that people in her area won't be able to afford it, or will choose to go elsewhere so the group will close.

LittleOwl153 · 04/02/2022 20:39

one thing that is not really hitting the headline is that commercial energy prices have got up around 400% in the last 6 months. Commercial prices (which church halls etc pay) are not capped by the government or anyone else so the energy companies can charge whatever they can get away with. If the organisation has been lucky with its energy contracts and fixed them a while back then it might be good for a while - but I know ow our church hall is in a dire position because its energy bill from next month has gone up enormously as they are now out of their fixed contract. This is going to have an enormous knock on effect of the costs ofnrunnjng these buildings and therefore any group which is running out of them.

Dontsayfuckorbugger · 04/02/2022 20:44

I use to run a toddler group twice a week in a community hall and it certainly wasn't free to use it. Some days we would have half a dozen mum's turn up with 2 or even 3 kids. We charged £1.50 per family (Not per child) and each adult had a drink and biscuit and each child a drink and snack. The cost of the hall hire was crippling and we had to pay for the cost of the cupboard we kept the donated toys in too. This was over 15 years ago so yes I can well understand why it would cost so much now. I worked as a volunteer and still paid every week, twice a week for my child. Hall rental has shot up especially as everyone is clawing back the money lost over lock down. So yes £5 is quite high but if that group doesn't rely on lottery funding and have so few people attending then yes £5 per child seems like it's the only way they can keep going unfortunately

Dibbydoos · 04/02/2022 22:05

The price increase is so the people who run it can earn a small crust. Why do some people commenting expect volunteers to run toddler groups fgs? If you want to use a volunteer run group, set one up. You volunteer - yes I can see you all queuing for that opportunity!

£5 imo is OK, it's not just for your child it's for you meeting other parents with toddlers - going to a soft play area etc wont buy you company whilst your child plays.

OP, I think you may be correct, though. If it's a deprived area, finding £5 to pay for this is going to be hard to find :(

NotNowAlan · 04/02/2022 22:16

@Dibbydoos

£5 imo is OK, it's not just for your child it's for you meeting other parents with toddlers - going to a soft play area etc wont buy you company whilst your child plays.

OP, I think you may be correct, though. If it's a deprived area, finding £5 to pay for this is going to be hard to find :(

Well chances are this group IS run by volunteers. I commented upthread that I ran a similar group as a volunteer for 3 years. I used to fundraise by holding tabletop sales etc. I did it for my children and for the community. There are plenty of similar groups out there. Charging £5 isn't earning a crust, it's barely covering costs. If the hall is charging more now then £5 may be the minimum they can run it for.

Owl55 · 06/02/2022 10:39

Perhaps you could offer to run the group and charge £2-50 .

PrivateHall · 06/02/2022 10:59

Toddler groups in my area are organised by the local churches. Toys and equipment has gathered up over the years, mostly through donations. The volunteers are mostly from the churches own community. Most provide a fairly substantial snack, mostly provided by the volunteers - some as parents to organise it on a rota basis. Generally, most of the parents work together at the end to clear everything away.

The cost is around £1 or £1.50 per family.

They are open to anyone, not just their own congregation but I imagine the idea is both to provide a community service but also to encourage people into the church with the hope they will end up attending the church too.

I absolutely would not pay a fiver, £.50 maybe if it was very special. Soft plays round here run toddler sessions that would work out better value as they tend to include toast and juice aswell as the soft play, for £3 or £4. The poster who said they pay £18 for a toddler group really made me laugh, who would actually pay that? I think that poster really has no clue about what its like to live in a deprived area....

PrivateHall · 06/02/2022 11:00

Last para should read £3.50

GrannytoaUnicorn · 06/02/2022 21:13

@NotMuchNotice Hi how did it go, OP?

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