How is Your Toddler Group Funded??

[queenoffe]

I Just joined a gem of a parent & toddler group... that is facing closure after 20 odd years at Christmas!! Any M'ntrs know who pays for the group they go to? This group is a drop in £1 a time, in an inner city.

Just looking for starting points and fresh ideas to keep this one going. They have survived for the past 5years on a now maximun Lottery Fund Grant. They've been going for 20 something years! [wow face]

Will post again in the morning, suspect this might be a bit heavy for this time o night?? Just had to get this burning question out there..

The one I attend most regularly is funded mainly by the church. They do a 'collection' (as we have a little 'toddler service' at the start of each group), but most of that goes to "Family Care" or smiliar charity. There's no actually cost.

Sirry can't help.

oh and this one has been run for the same couple for over 18yrs now

Our toddler group is 75p a session, 3 times a week. Other than that i dont know how it is funded. A lot of the toys are either given by parents when their children have grown out of them or bought with the money we give each session.... how this actually covers it i dont know especially when tea, coffee and juice is supplied.
We do have a little tuck shop type thing as well, toast for example is 10p per slice and cans of coke etc are paid for seperately, so i know buying in bulk saves on the cost.

I would be lost without my 3 mornings a week out the house!

wow qoq! I cant imagine being anywhere that long!? Its a good thing to do.

ah thanks guys. Its a life line for me too, hope we can keep it going.. got a feeling like 'much I will learn' in these coming months. Have to log off now but thanks for your posts

We pay £10 per term.

would need more information. why cant they keep open? do they have paid staff, do they own the building and have the costs of the building to consider?

if the hire of the room / hall can be covered each session by an enterence fee then all your looking at are equipment costs ( presuming no staff as is a m&T's group)

what equipment would you need - after 20 years you probably have toys

so need more information

but for information your local council will have a community chest grant which is for £1000
theere are banks such as barclays and llyds who do grants for up to 10k

if you have a local co-operative store then they do grants for £500

and you should all be aware of the annual running costs and maybe meet one a quarter to discuss how to fund raise - like a PTA does for a school - so regular raffles - someones husband or cousin always wants to run a marathon, climb a mountain for a good cause and sponsorship. bring & buy sales, car boot sales with proceeds to M&T group, xmas fair, bake sale, name the doll, how many m&ms in a jar, people could ebay old things with proceeds going to the group.

wondering why they needed a lottery grant - this M&T group must be part of something bigger?

Ours funds itself with the weekly payments - though the hall committee seem to think it's a business venture rather than a community event and keep trying to raise the rent! It covers refreshments, art stuff, some new toys every now and then and an end of year trip. Don't really know what use more money would go to.