CHANGES TO SUBS FROM APRIL 2020
We have recently had a meeting to plan scouting activities and funding for the next year and concluded that despite our best efforts to consciously manage the costs of First Shirley and intrepid ESU, we will need to raise our monthly subs by £2 a month* to £17 for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and £18 for Intrepid.
We appreciate that we will be asking you to pay more for the time that your child spends at First Shirley and Intrepid. However, we hope that you will agree that this still represents good value for the activities and experiences that your children enjoy while they are with us.
We remain committed to inclusion for all of our members and do not want anyone to miss out on the opportunities that Scouting presents. If the changes to subs collection are likely to cause you any financial hardship, please do contact us in confidence at treasurer@1stshirley.org.uk .
This change will take effect in the April subs collection run (notified on 4th April and collected around 12th April).
* NOTE: Even though the sections do not meet over the Summer, subs will be collected every month of the year so the total annual cost for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will be £204 and for Intrepid £216.
We will retain a discount for siblings and for children of leaders and adult helpers and this will continue to be managed via an annual refund of subs paid based on our annual membership census
As a charity, we are entitled to claim Gift Aid from all subs payers who are UK taxpayers and who have indicated that they are willing for us to claim Gift Aid on their contributions. This year alone, our Gift Aid application is likely to boost our annual income by more than £4,000, a sum that is invaluable to us if we are to continue to provide the facilities and activities that your children enjoy. If your circumstances have changed since you originally set up your subs direct debit or you are not sure if we have an accurate record of your Gift Aid eligibility and willingness for us to claim on your contributions, please do contact us at treasurer@1stshirley.org.uk.
Kerry Devereux, Group Chair
Tony Fitzgerald, Group Scout Leader
On behalf of the Group Executive Committee - First Shirley Scout Group