AUBU to not want to have to constantly fund-raise as well as paying subs?

[TeaAndBrie]

My DD attends a gymnastics club that we pay monthly subs for.
The head coach is constantly trying to do fund raising activities. I get it, I know costs are high, but I would rather pay a bit more each month than be made to feel guilty if we don’t participate.
He is always doing scratch cards, fill a smarties tube, 100 club, bonus ball, bake sales, virtual quizzes and bingo etc.
I feel awkward asking people I know to have to pay out for stuff and often end up just doing it all myself.
We’ve just had an email saying that they will not attend a competition because not enough people participated in the fundraiser. We always normally pay competition fees ourselves so not sure why this one needs to be any different.
The children are all understandably disappointed to not be attending and the coach has put the blame firmly on the parents.
I work fulltime and have a life. I will always give up my time to help support events etc that they do but I don’t see why everyone around us should get pulled in to help contribute to a private pursuit - it’s not exactly saving Whales or anything is it!

Can you email back and ask why this comp isn't happening of you normally pay extra anyway?

Also maybe suggest, paying a bit more each month instead of continuously fund raising?

What does the fundraising go towards? Is it to the club? What's the money used for? I would assume your subs and comp fees should include the costs associated with the club - so venue, insurance, coaching/employment costs... does the fundraiser cover the costs of the coaches attending the comps? If so surely the answer is to charge a club fee onto of the comp entry fee so that covers the clubs costs in attending. Alot less stressful all around. If the fundraising is covering the fees for students whos parents can't afford to pay then maybe there is some discussion to be had ... but otherwise I can't see why the club is finances in this way.

Maybe he just doesn't think the club will survive if fees are raised? Could you speak to the coach and ask whether a monthly club fee or higher subs or even a monthly donation- voluntary and discretionary amount if there is a disparity in income is the answer and ditch the fundraising altogether ... not many parents have the time for fundraising these days.

I’d email him and say a short version of what you’ve said - Can I just pay an extra £ instead, I’m busy and I’m not comfortable fundraising for a private none essential hobby we can afford to pay for not an actual charity.
DD once did a trip abroad part paid, paid fundraised for a hobby and I did feel uncomfortable - asking random people to contribute to a holiday that just benefited DD seemed bizarre.

Maybe the club contribute towards costs for those who can’t afford it and have cancelled so nobody is left behind?

I believe the latest fundraiser Was to get extra equipment so there is normally a reason of what they need.
I think an email politely stating my point might be a good idea as I’m sure others feel the same!

It’s so frustrating. One of my sons went to junior rugby and they brought the parents together to say they were going to book a short trip for the boys to be paid from fundraising (already paid subs and bought kit). They had the bright idea of bag packing every weekend fir 4 months! I work full time, have 4 kids and cannot give up Saturdays for bag packing. I asked could I just pay his costs direct - apparently not. So I had to withdraw him from the trip. He was devastated.

This really gets on my nerves too. My son plays football and it's £40 per month, plus £30 for kit each season. Then there's always pressure to money in for certain things like raffles, scratch cards etc. The team has 3 sponsors putting in £750 each so i don't know why all this extra money is needed and where it's going.
They were promised water proof jackets and extra training kits which never materialised, but i thought that's what the sponsorship money was for.
I actually worked our they were making profit on charging parents for kit as it was around £23 from the supplier but parents were asked for £30. I'm sure the team would have discount for bulk order too.

I actually quit a club because of this (admittedly I'm an adult). However the fundraising was constant and very "twee" they wanted us to have knitathons and sell knitted dolls and other things. It was a sports club! I even asked if I could just pay for my insurance and professional body membership myself but apparently not, it hand to be fundraised.

Bigboys it was bag packing for DD’s trip. Random supermarkets and random times, constant emails. DD hated it (she has a disability that was obvious when bag packing) I hate it as a shopper. Plus why should public pay for mc children to go on what was effectively a holiday.
I can see it’s possibly a way of enabling children to go if they can’t afford full cost but parents who have time and car to chauffeur child bag packing are probably in the can afford to pay group.

@Bigboysmademedoit

It’s so frustrating. One of my sons went to junior rugby and they brought the parents together to say they were going to book a short trip for the boys to be paid from fundraising (already paid subs and bought kit). They had the bright idea of bag packing every weekend fir 4 months! I work full time, have 4 kids and cannot give up Saturdays for bag packing. I asked could I just pay his costs direct - apparently not. So I had to withdraw him from the trip. He was devastated.

Oh god I forgot about the bag packing, we did that at one point too

Sounds the the club mine went to, I ended up pulling them out as they were so grabby. They are running a business not a charity and need to look at how they manage their finances IMO

Is there transparency about where this money is going? As if you already pay subs / competition fees it’s hard to understand why you can’t attend a competition because not there’s not enough money coming from that or the constant fundraising. It’s not a charity. It shouldn’t rely on charitable donations to function or use them as a reason to withdraw children from events. It’s poor business management.

Could some of you say that, as your children were so disappointed to not be entered, you’d like to see if you can help organise ways to support the business so it’s viable, and could details be provided about where the money raised is going? Or something similar?

I don’t think unaccounted for money - which is collected in unknown quantities because it isn’t a sub - should just be disappearing and you constantly being called upon into replenishing it.

YANBU @TeaAndBrie. And things like this make me sooooo glad I have no school age children now. (Both mid to late 20s..) Could not be arsed with shit like this anymore tbh. Had 12-13 years of it. Never again. No real advice, but you have my sympathy. 1