Rainbows

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What are the costs involved in going to Rainbows? Do you pay a weekly amount? Is the uniform expensive?
TIA

I imagine that it would vary from unit to unit. There would be a subscription of some sort to cover expenses, insurance and the upkeep of the premises (if owned, or a hiring fee). Some units may have a one off annual payment for insurance and then a termly or weekly payment for day-to-day costs. I can't he;p on uniform costs, but if this is a problem I am sure that the leader would be able to assist with some second hand pieces.

We pay £25 subscription fees (I can't remember if that's per term, I think it is). I think it was about £35 for her uniform - that included hooded cardigan and cap as well as tshirt and trousers, but you only "need" the trousers and a t-shirt. DD1 and DD2 both loved/love Rainbows - DD1 is now a Brownie and loves that just as much!

£2.50 a week (although you have to pay even if you miss a week).

They wear a tabard over normal clothes. The tabard was £8 new; they come up on ebay and freecycle though.

I take brownies (the fees are normally comparable)

we charge approx £1.50 per week .. to save on admin we take the fees twice a year £25 each time.
from that we pay the annual subscription approx £20 for insurance etc. The rest we spend on running the program, providing the girls books etc Any shortfall is made up by gift aid which we claim on the subscriptions

Outings and special events we either fundraise and/or ask the parents to pay

but we all cover our costs differently and some units prefer to have a cushion in their bank acct that they can carry from year to year

If you find the costs prohibitive speak to the leader.. we have in the past waived fees when we know its not doable. on a more formal basis the guide assoc has a hardship fund for any girl that would like to join but finds the costs too high

hope your dd enjoys rainbows and goes on to have many great years in guiding

When my dd went to Rainbows it was about £1.25 a week (for an hour and a half session).

The uniform would be expensive if bought new, but it is very easy to pick up cheaply on ebay.

Think this depends on which unit you are with. Our local Rainbows charge £20 a term (payable 3 times a year) but some units charge per meeting (this depends). This coveres hire of the hall, materials etc. All units of Guiding have to pay an annual census in feb which I think is £17 or £18 a member. Again some units take this out of the terms subs, while others charge seperatley. This, plus uniform costs and any trips may seema lot, but from experience I would say it is fantatsic value and that the girls get a lot out of it. Whilst Rainbows wasnt invested when I was young, I have been involve in Guiding since 7 and as long as you get the right uni and the right people would say that you get a lot out of it and some real achievements. If you have questions - shout and I'll do my best, but am no authority on rainbows I'm afraid, I work with the older ones!

wow thanks for all the info. My dd is 5 and i am wondering if we should do Brownies in a couple of years. Rainbows is on a school night and i don't want her getting too tired.

PickledHAN, can I hijack thread for a sec (you seem to be a lady in the know). I am trying to get my d (5.5) into our local rainbows or brownies waiting list. I have been given a number of someone (throught the Guiding website) but she never answers the phone or returns my calls. What else can I do to speak to someone who runs a rainbow group in my area? I live in Middx. Many Thanks

We charge £2 per week plus £6 per term for census (this is paid to the Guiding Association and covers our insurance). The polo shirt is all you need for uniform really, and is around £8. Not many packs have the tabards any more, I think they are being phased out. We are a new pack but when our first Rainbows go up to Brownies we will be facilitating parents who want to sell on secondhand uniform to new Rainbows, I am sure all packs would do that.
Our Rainbows really seem to enjoy everything we do - we do crafts, games, songs, learning about the world. For instance we made next week we are learning about Chinese New Year, and the week after someone is going to teach them Flamenco dancing. We are also planning to do an overnight camp (indoor!) with them.
I would let her try it out for one session and see if she likes it. You will soon know if she finds it too tiring.

Molly, you need to get hold of the District Commissioner for your area. She will have the contact details for all of the local units. Try the Guiding website again and ask for her details.

thanks LadyGlencora. I will get in touch with the local leader.

Hi Molly? sorry not been on MN recently, still unpacking the last couple of boxes from house move. LadyGlencora is absolutely right - you need to get in touch with either the District/ Division Commissioner or the unit Guider. If your contact isn?t answering the phone, you can try Googling Girlguiding UK join us and there is a number on there/ email address. Alternativley. Do you know any mums whose daughters go to the unit you want to get dd into? They will have a contact number for the unit Guider. Good luck!

After reading your fees i am a little shocked and confused as my DD only pays 20p - yes 20pence per week to go - can this be right??? it is a large group and has a mixed rainbow, brownies and guides - its held in our local school each friday and is run by 3 brown owls ??? can these fee's really cover the costs of runnung the group right - as DD has only been going three weeks and upto is the only rainbow with a uniform>>> also no badges have been mentioned and they dont seem to do promises??? (confused)

Some units don't do so many badges.

We had an incredible Brownie Unit. Very organised- really well run and some great pack holidays.

Then the local guides went half term to half term with no real talk of doing her promise, a "oh just turn up in the uniform if you like" or "we haven't time now we'll do that next half term." Similarly they did very little in patrols and didn't even know what patrol they were in. Final straw was camp which was atrocious for my daughter with SEN who wasn't provided for as they had said they would and its one of her most traumatic memories!

Also they changed the badges from skills at brownies and guides to random things - ie cake decorating instead of cooking a meal. Campaigning rather than the traditional badges.

She's started scouts almost just in time for explorers and really wishes she'd changed over earlier.

However I think this partly goes to show that it depends on the units around you rather than the organisation itself. (Although mine like working towards the traditional badges!)

There are squirrels now which are before cubs if rainbows doesn't work out for you.

We’re £40 a term for brownies, in the south east