Paying childrens cancelled activities

[PlantHerd]

Have received two emails from DC extra curricular activities stopping sessions due to CV. We have been asked to keep monthly standing orders, I have had to email back saying that I will be unable to continue payments due our own financial circumstances changing (Im self employed and will be out of work)

One has replied back stating that DC will lose their place (there is a waiting list).

Not sure what to do/say..

I understand a lot of people are going to be affected but as a family we need to now prioritise food/bills.

Wow that’s not good.

You do what’s best for you and your family, and they do what’s best for theirs.

If that means you stopping payment, but understanding that your child will lose their spot, then so be it.

I wouldn’t burn bridges.

I think that’s fair enough on both sides. If your financial circumstances have changed you can’t keep paying for no actual service. But you also can’t expect them to hold a place you can’t pay for. Of course they’re likely to find that other people won’t pay for no service either, but it’s their choice to take the risk.

Same here. We’ve been asked to keep paying despite the fact it’s cancelled indefinitely

Fair enough on both sides. There won’t be spaces as clubs will have to fold if people don’t keep paying when they still have bills (rental and rates for example on our gymnastics properties are over £5000 per month alone)

There was a waiting list you mean.

I'd just leave it.

Girlguiding and Scouts will be different.
I run a brownie group, all monthly subs stopped. Girls remain members and we are going to have virtual meetings via Zoom.

Hi, have not been asked but was wondering whether it seems reasonable to offer to pay at a reduced rate subscriptions for clubs my kids attend - we have two clubs both small businesses run by the individuals. I imagine this will have a huge impact on them - of course I don’t know details of their circumstsnces. I work in nhs and could afford to pay - but don’t want to be weird or make people feel awkward / charity cases!

Anyone just keeping up payments they can afford from public spiritedness?

I attend a class myself, I've offered to continue paying because I'm still getting paid.

I want my class to be back on when this all ends, I think if you can afford to keep things as normal you should try.

Obviously each person has their own priorities but self-preservation is good, humanity is better.

i wouldn't pay because its not going to keep these companies in business

this won't end in a few weeks....it is likely going to continue for months through to autumn/winter. the businesses won't survive until then on just your direct debit

it will all be starting again from scratch on the other side i think

Yes - these are exactly the opposing views I’m struggling with....
I know the government have pledged money to help people in this situation but not sure how that’s being put in place practically.

I'm debating this too. My childminder wants full fees which I kind of thought was fair enough if I'm getting paid. But being selfish I'm a single parent and can't really afford the fees anyway. Then swimming said they wanted a £5 a month retainer and lots of parents were getting angry on Facebook about it . So that made me rethink the childminder. I just don't know what's reasonable.

Dd's sign language class is still going (online), happy to keep paying for it. Ds's drama and french classes are cancelled for the forseeable future but we haven't been asked to keep paying. The rest of their activities were pay as you go.

I had a call from YMCA this morning about D's swimming lessons. Cancelled until further notice and payments frozen. Tbh I would have been happy to keep paying off that meant the swimming teacher was still getting paid. My DS also has guitar lessons which I'm continuing to pay for as his teacher is self employed and will have a tough time ahead. However our income isn't going to be impacted. I very much appreciate we are in a privileged position and I'm happy to help others that are not.

On the flip side, is also does another sport that are STILL holding classes and 'reassuring' parents that the children will be told to wash their hands. This is a 1:1 contact support. They will be getting no money from us.

We will be continuing to pay the coaches that teach my children apart from one who has been rather sanctimonious and unpleasant about other coaches decisions on when to close etc and because of his attitude he'll get nothing!

*i wouldn't pay because its not going to keep these companies in business

this won't end in a few weeks....it is likely going to continue for months through to autumn/winter. the businesses won't survive until then on just your direct debit*

But if lots of people who are financially able to continue paying for services they value then it's not just your direct debit is it? It could be the difference between managing to cling on or not.

Happy to carry on paying for a variety of things here regardless. We are fortunate to still have our regular income, it's money we have budgeted to go out, and it's guaranteed to help more than just hanging businesses we love out to dry!

I think that’s fair enough on both sides. If your financial circumstances have changed you can’t keep paying for no actual service. But you also can’t expect them to hold a place you can’t pay for.

This, really.

My daughter’s swimming lessons have frozen payments that will then be honoured when the open again (I had paid up front for 10 lessons, and have about 6 remaining this time).

We are currently only paying our childminder and will do for as long as we are able.

One of DD's activities is doing a bit of teaching via Facebook live and still expecting to be paid. These coaches all have full time jobs and no rent to pay on the building the activity takes place in. We've decided not to pay. It's a lot of money and we need to prioritise our own family.

I gave my kid a tin of spam so we're all good thanks.

If you want the place or even the activity to even be there when things are back to normal you should pay. If you're not fussed don't. But you can't have it both ways. They need an income too.

Zombie!