Child's expensive sport asking for fundraising

[bonusjonasus]

My son does a gymnastic sport at a local club. He is good at it, loves it, and spends a lot of time there. He trains 4 days a week and it's very expensive. The gym he trains at does 2 sub sports. His sport is the lesser important of the 2 as it is not an Olympic sport.

Anyway, his sport side recently took off (say last 9/12 months) and they have increased the numbers in the groups (these are elite development groups - my son has competed at regional and national level) which means they now get less time on equipment as there as more in the group.

Last year, the fees were increased at the same time the weekly hours were cut, so we now pay more money for less time. He was fairly new at this point so I didn't raise this but I'm aware some parents did.

Anyway, we've recently been asked to fundraise for new equipment. A new track that has needed upgrading for years apparently. I assumed we would be fundraising towards it and the club would be paying most. But no, turns out if we want our kids to have a new track we have to fundraise and pay for it ourselves.

Now, this is a successful club. We all pay a LOT of money for our children to attend and the website states 'world class facilities' but this is obviously not the case. I have asked for a meeting with the director next week. He has opened 2 new gyms this year, wears a Rolex and drives a super expensive car. He's doing well. The gym must make a fortunes as it is constantly packed with one thing or another. It is not recreational, it's elite. So I suppose my question is, what are others thoughts/ experiences with this?

When I meet him on Monday my basic question is why isn't the club paying for the much needed upgrade for equipment given the amount we pay every month.

Is this normal? What are they using the money for if not making sure the gym has appropriate equipment?

Thanks

I think your points are all valid. Good luck. I would consider fundraising to be appropriate for say, a charity or community group or for a special event, not an upgrade of equipment!

Thank you @Bobbybobbins !
We fundraised last year for British leotards for the kids that qualified to compete in the British champs. I don't mind this, because if not the fundraising it's down to parents already paying through the nose to pay for their own child's mega expensive leotards.

But this to me is just basic equipment. I really want to know if anywhere else does this I'm trying to anticipate what his reasoning may be

Try doing a search on the Companies House website and see whether you can find out anything about the finances and profits etc on there.

His reasoning will be that so far he’s been allowed to get away with it. I think a meeting with all the parents needs to be arranged, as it will have more impact than just one parent complaining. What are his plans if everyone refuses to fundraise?

Ask about the finances.
Is this a profit making business or a charity?
If it is profit making then asking customers to fundraise to buy equipment for the business is inappropriate.
If it is a charity ask to see the accounts, ask who is on the board , when the AGM is etc

I have been on the committee of several sports clubs over the years and we have never asked parents to do anything like this. We've done the odd bit of bag packing at local supermarkets etc to boost funds but that's all. I do know of clubs who have either one off or on going fund raising campaigns but personally for a big piece of equipment I'd probably start by looking for a grant - there's actually loads of potential funding sources both local and national for kids' sports.
That is of course, if it is a not for profit club run by volunteers which every club I have been involved with is. But from what you're saying, I'm guessing this is perhaps actually a business with paid coaches? In that case they're unlikely to be eligible for grants but equally I wouldn't expect to be asked to fund raise for what, as you say, sounds like basic equipment. My DD runs a dance school as a business and yes, she's done fundraisers for things like subsidising the costs of a trip or similar but she wouldn't expect the parents to raise the money for a new studio floor - costs like that are things she needs to factor into her charges.
I guess your problem may be that if you refuse your fees may just shoot up to cover the costs. However it would put me off this organisation I must say and I'd be inclined to vote with my feet. Is there anywhere else you could move to or is it too niche a sport for there to be alternatives locally?

This sounds like one for the AGM. You will have more of a forum there to talk about the expectation on parents to buy gym-owned equipment in general.

You are not wrong, but I don't know what you can do If it's his business, he can do what he wants.I think voting with your feet is the only option

If it's his business, what agm?

Either it's a business or it's not. If it is, you're a paying customer and you don't have to stay.

Either way, you are not obligated to participate in fundraising. Even at volunteer run community clubs people manage to dodge it, so it's possible. You might just need a thick skin to avoid peer pressure.

DD's dance school is doing the same for renovations in the lobby. There's even a fundraising committee! The owner drives an expensive car & DC go to a fancy private school. Just took half the staff to a conference & posted all about the shows they saw & experiences they did, food, etc.....

I was talking to a friend, whose relayed it to her relative who owns her own studio - they laughed & said 'tell them to get a business loan!!'

It's not forced upon you, although it's always 'there' & DD asks why I we are not participating.

Our fundraising efforts are reserved for paying for DS to go to Scout Jamboree next year. Much better in our pocket!!

So parents fundraiser- ie pay for the equipment- and then it’s owned by the business as an asset on it’s balance sheet or it’s owned by the club as a collective? So if the membership decided to move elsewhere, they could take the kit? Or Rolex boy could sell it and keep the money? Do check that part.