FYI MMW - unlikely to get tickets if you have applied before

[Voidka]

**Dear Friend of Merlin?s Magic Wand

It has always been the charity?s intention to support and bring joy to as many children as possible.

With the increase in the number of applications we are receiving, and with finite resources, our Trustees have decided that we must be more selective in our provision of tickets. Therefore we must now prioritise applications for children who we have not previously supported.

All other applications will remain in the system. However, it will take us longer to process those that are for children who Merlin?s Magic Wand has helped previously, and it is very likely that those applications will not be successful.

This has been a very difficult decision and we appreciate that this may be disappointing for some of you. As someone who has already had the opportunity to benefit from the experience of a day out through the charity, you know what this can mean to a child and their family. We hope you can understand why we are doing this and support our need to bring that same joy to as many children as possible.

Thank you for your support and understanding

The Merlin?s Magic Wand Team

Just thought I would share as I know lots of people here are applying for tickets.

Thanks for sharing, was going to apply again this year, they are updating their application form on their site so was waiting.

iv had the same email x

It makes me a bit cross that the 'trustees' of this charity are all senior executives within the Merlin Group.

We've never applied with them, and were going to apply for tickets for this summer, but I notice they say it takes 12 wks to respond. I guess we'll try and see how long it takes.

Have had the same e-mail.

Bit confused as we've never applied before yet they tell me I have?!?

Kind of dissapointed to be honest.

I notice it says they may ask for further documentation... any ideas what this might be, so we could prepare it to get things sorted in a more timely manner?

DS doesn't have a firm diagnosis letter so we are ineligible (DLA award not sufficient)

I only sent a letter that showed DS's difficulties the first time and we were accepted.

ok thank you

They didn't give this information out when we applied and seem to be moving the goal posts constantly.

First, we had the dumping of applications on to the NAS and then a 10-12 week delay and now this newly imposed restriction.

I am not impressed. I know it is a charity but they should be able to plan their resources more efficiently so they are not disappointing children with disabilities.

These tickets cost the parks nothing, you spend money while you are there and they are, no doubt, tax deductible contributions.

I really wonder what the difference in application numbers is now compared to 2011 or 2010. I suspect it's marginal.

Perhaps we should all write to the Trustees and ask them what the difference in numbers of applications is.

I am not sure why they can't tell the truth. They are clearly looking to pull the scheme.

I imagine as people use it, they tell others, and the applications get more and more as it's better known. I doubt they are deliberately being difficult. The money they have available isn't a never-ending pot of money.

It's not just tickets they provide, but also transportation costs to many.

I do understand the change, and I do support it.

Its just the same point as last time, that they make out they are a struggling charity, not one that is part of a much bigger group. And it doesnt mention that the 'trustees' are actually three members of the groups managements (namely the CFO, legal advisor and health and safety director).

It's entirely possible that only a certain portion of the profits of the group are allocated to the charity. After all, the business as a whole is not a charity, only that particular arm of it. Therefore, the charity itself MAY be struggling to stay within budget. Increased applications means increased work for what little staff they may actually have.

I'm sure FB groups are a huge part of the increase. I'm on a couple of them which have thousands of members all of whom are finding out about MMW for the first time.