Any guide leaders who can advise?

[Bandino]

Just wanted to know what's the norm with the cancellation of camp last summer. We paid a fairly substantial amount around February for a camp in August that was cancelled but there's been no word of returning it. Is it likely the money was paid to the camp before March and kept by the venue? Just find out a bit odd really. I'm not ungrateful for the work the volunteers do but would like to know what happened.

There is no norm, really. Was it a big organised camp, or somewhere like PGL?

Many of the big camps postponed and carried forwards bookings. They take time to cancel and return monies. Most I’ve seen that have no cancelled have managed full or almost full refunds, but don’t know the timescales.

Others have had huge issues with places like PGL and Kingswood refusing to cancel and refund despite law saying they should.

It’s not unreasonable to politely ask the volunteers.

As Educated said, there is no norm - we always advise parents to make sure they have travel insurance in case things go wrong and we can’t get money/deposits back.

Was it a big county camp or something like WINGS or Wellies and Wristbands? Deposits for big camps do have to be paid to the venues very early but I wouldn’t think you were being unreasonable to ask. Sometimes communication isn’t great.

Apparently the government are going to release guidance about residential for schools and organised groups in feb/March.
I've only heard it from a friend but she likes to be a well informed busybody so it's probably correct. Might be worth digging around the internet.

www.schooltravelorganiser.com/news-and-ideas/dfe-recognises-enormous-benefits-of-residentials-amid-hopes-for-easter-2021-restart/8914.article

Thank you all very much. I think it was one where they join up with another two packs, not PGL or anything, doing country things and playing in the woods. I asked last summer but they said they'd look into it later. I'll ask again. It might be that they're thinking of using the money for this summer coming.

I'm involved with Scouts, rather than guides, but same principle.
If the camp was due to have happened in August 2020 it is really poor that they haven't communicated with you about it.
As others have said, there have been issues with some travel companies wanting people to postpone big trips rather than cancel, and some people's insurance has not been helpful either but
a) it doesn't sound like that applies to this camp and
b) They should still have been communicating with you to keep you informed about what is happening.

It sounds though as if this was just a much more low key, locally organised camp, so I can't see any reason why they haven't returned your money, or offered you the option of carrying it over to a camp this year if you prefer. There may be a small % that they had to spend in advance and can't recover, but most of it should have come back to you in August.

Definitely get in touch and ask them for the money back.

Thank you Back for Good, I will ask.

What did they say when you you followed it up @Bandino ?