Guiders Staff Room Part 2

[Groovee]

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extracurricularr_activities/715087-Guiders-39-staff-room-tea-wine-chat-and-optional-dancing

Part one above, new thread for when required x

We charge £3 a week but half of that goes on rent. Census is around £27 which we also pay out of subs. I don't like to charge for anything that is part of our normal programme as that would exclude some of our girls whose parents couldn't afford it. We usually charge for events that are outside our normal meetings though.

We need to claim gift aid for the past 3 years so I'm hoping that will be a nice little windfall to pay for something fun.

Do you all do 10 week terms or follow the school terms? I follow the school terms generally so we have 13 meetings this summer term. But the £20 a term subs is the same whether we meet for 10 weeks or more. Our census was £29 this year but has been rumoured to be £31 or £32 next year. So I allow approx. £5 per meeting as a budget (so £65 this term) and bank the rest for census.

We follow school terms, subs are £25 a term.

We also follow school terms.

We follow school terms but meet every week in term even if it's a training day, so 37/38 weeks a year. We charge £35 per term, so £105 per year. I think we are the highest in our division but we pay more rent than the others, give more badges than the others, and don't charge a joining fee: we provide all badges and books and a blanket but don't provide uniform.
After the stuff we provide and rent and leader training we have less than 30p per girl for materials/meeting. Some meetings cost next to nothing (hikes etc), but some cost considerably more (yoga sessions, cooking, zoo visit etc), plus Leader training needs to be paid for. I think we give great value for what we offer/provide). Only had one person ever question the subs (question went straight to DC, grrr) so provided a breakdown of costs which shut them up for the remainder of their daughter's time in Brownies. I'm really proud of our thriftiness actually: our Brownies get a brilliant experience for less that £3 a week.

We follow school terms here. £2 per week - not many of our parents can afford the lump payment all at once.

Everything comes out of unit funds & is done as thriftily as possible as I'd like to invest in some more roundabouts/proper equipment for the girls rather than buy a new 'pack' to do each week.

Have bought and paid for pretty much everything up to summer hols so will be banking the vast majority of next terms subs towards census (£20 ish here), resources, uniform for my AL and training.

Have you started your Gift Aid claim yet Imfine? I need my DC to sign mine on Weds at our AGM so I can return it to HMRC.

I didn't realise that census amounts changed over areas.

I want to suggest weekly paying as I am quite sure at least one of the girls who hasn't paid isn't well off - however, I can also imagine that week's missed would not be paid for and she'd 'forget' her subs occasionally... I feel rotten when I think it's not the child's fault. It's not a surprise either - we ask for money every term.

lucysmam I have done the very first part of the gift aid claim and I have the form back from girlguiding where they sign a bit. I am waiting for my accounts to be verified and to have proper access to the bank account so I can send off the form to HMRC.

I find that a couple of ours occasionally 'forget' Imfine (one pats round his pockets/chest - makes me chuckle every time) they usually catch up the week after though. It's easier to catch up £4 than find a lump of £25+! Maybe the option of termly/half termly/weekly if it wouldn't be too much faffing for you would work?

We have four who pay half termly, one who hands over a tenner every few weeks and asks to be told when they need to 'top up' which is fine with me - just mark it on my subs sheet - and the rest pay weekly (inc. me for both my Rainbow and Brownie).

It's frustratingly long winded taking over isn't it?! I have everything set to go now my bank account is sorted thankfully, just that last autograph to get. & then to work out HOW to actually claim...

We don't pay rent either, the Rainbows pay £20/term (so £60/year). Half of that goes in the bank for census, which has been knocking on £30 for the last few years (LaSER). We don't pay rent, and work on about £10/week for activities, with at least 2 or 3 nights per term "free", which gives us enough to cover badge costs etc.

We were lucky that when I took over 5 years ago we had just under £1000 in the bank I've spent it all now though which has meant we've been able to buy a flag, subsidise subs for one or two, trips and pay leader training and uniform without any bother. We also have a healthy amount of 2nd hand uniform that girls leaving have donated, it's available to any new starters in return for a small donation to unit funds - we suggest a fiver donation for a full uniform but it's at the discretion of the parent.

Maybe the option of termly/half termly/weekly if it wouldn't be too much faffing for you would work?

This is exactly what we do. They can pay for the half term, whole term, weekly, or even random amounts over the term (although that's not officially offered). As long as they've paid up by the end of term, I'm happy. They can pay cash, cheque, or direct into the bank.

Maybe the option of termly/half termly/weekly if it wouldn't be too much faffing for you would work?

This sounds good. I"m not being paid regardless so it's worth a try. Maybe I should offer it up now as my attempts at being strict obviously failed!

lucysmam you have hit the nail on the head. It is sooo time consuming taking over, especially as the previous leader was so disorganised. I keep thinking "I won't have to do this again next year" as I tick another job off the list!

I can assure you all that in real life I am an upbeat Rainbows leader - this is just my safe space to vent!!

You might just find it's the finding of a lump of subs that's the problem & paying weekly helps. Of course there are some who just don't turn up & don't let you know either way. I've not had anyone complain about paying for missed weeks yet though.

I'd maybe be prepared to write off the unreceived subs or take them as a smaller amount over the course of a few weeks too if it does turn out to be money that's the issue.

Lots of my bank stuff arrived this morning (along with some surprise Love2Shop vouchers - no idea where they're from!) including a PIN number even though I said no to cards

I'm in quite an affluent area and normally get subs ok, just a couple forget and once had one avoiding me for week. DC was ready to get involved when we got it paid on the last week.

We were at a division training event recently and we got on to the subject of payments etc.

I've had to chase two for subs this term, we charge. £25 a term, so 3 times a year. One parent is rather scatty, but I should get it now I've chased . The other is the parent of a new brownie. Parent replied that she gave the other leader a cheque a few weeks ago, sounding quite surprised at being asked. Checked accounts, and write back to explain that the chq received in Feb converted last terms subs, plus the £10 that mostly covers the books/bag received when she makes her promise. Now another lot of subs are due.... Watch this space I guess!

Photo trail Tuesday night, then Dutch night the week after. Does anyone know any Dutch games for this age group?

I had a girl move up from rainbows who was shocked that her August payment to rainbows didn't cover the whole year!

Last night of term planned. We're going to a community farm for a tour. Our rainbow leader works there and we can donate our profits from our show to it X

I had a girl move up from rainbows who was shocked that her August payment to rainbows didn't cover the whole year!

I had the opposite just last week. New girl's mum handed over £20 and was under the impression that she needed to pay again after half term

InFlagrante Double Dutch skipping?

Yay, paying in book and cheque book have arrived! Last daffodil for the card we're making was handed to me this morning.

I'm just looking for a named contact for Tesco to pester them about f2f but not getting far & it's toooo far for me to actually go since I'd have to get 2 buses.

Lucysmam could you call the store and ask for the name?

Yep I'm going to have to once I have a late breakfast.

I did find a pdf table of community champions but neither store close ish to me is on there

Have any of you ever had a parent complain that there wasn't enough activities/events/whatever outside of unit time?

Not had a parent complain but have had one who told me that they expected cooking and arts stuff every week!

Ugh, have completely lost my mojo today. I am pregnant and tired, and I just cant be bothered with brownies tonight :(

Oh Albus, I've had a few of those nights this year. Usually hand over to the rest of the team to run the night at short notice while I hide doing admin!

Hugs x

We're going on a scavenger hunt. Its hot!

Parents hassling me about a camp I cancelled as no one wanted to go, saying how desperate their daughter was to go.

Other parents wanting info on Magic and Mayhem that I just haven't received from blacklands yet.

And still money and forms for this term outstanding!