1st Weaverham Sea Scout Group, like many others, collects membership fees on an annual basis, and the Treasurer sends out request emails around early March.
Currently this fee stands at £100 per annum for all Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.
A pro-rata fee is payable for children who join during the year, and the Treasurer will write separately in these cases.
The basic running costs of the group are more than £10,500 per annum. Part of this is the Capitation fee, which is paid directly to the Scout Association to support the infrastructure of Scouting, including insurance, training and resources. The Capitation fee is paid for everyone – including leaders – who appear on our Census return in January, it has to be paid by March, and in our case amounts to £55/head or almost £4,000 per annum. In addition, our own costs include £2,000 for scout hall insurance and £4,500 for utilities (gas, water, electricity). We cannot cover our total costs by fund-raising and that is why we have to charge an annual membership fee.
We thank all those parents who are able to make their payments on time and in full because, sadly, a great deal of time and effort is wasted as a result of non payment or delayed payment.
We would much prefer payment directly by bank transfer, in which case please ensure that your child’s name is included as a reference. Our bank details are as follows:
Bank: HSBC Northwich
Account Name: 1st Weaverham Sea Scouts
Sort Code: 40-35-07
Account number: 91192256
Alternatively you can pay by cheque, made payable to “1st Weaverham Sea Scouts”, or you may find it easier to pay by a regular monthly standing order. If so you should download and complete the Standing Order Mandate and send that directly to your bank.
As a registered charity we are able to reclaim basic rate tax on all donations, and this includes membership fees when these have been paid by a UK tax payer. A Gift Aid Declaration form is also attached for you to download, complete and return, if appropriate, to allow us to make this claim.
Cheques, together with Gift Aid form as appropriate, should be sent to the Group Treasurer at the address given in the request email.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO THE SECTION LEADER!
(The Standing Order Mandate should be sent directly to your bank)
If your personal circumstances make it difficult for you to find this fee, then please discuss the matter, in confidence, with the section leaders and they will do all that they can to help.
We believe that as the total cost of membership remains at less than £2 per session it compares very favourably to the going rate for tennis or football lessons, or a game of ten-pin bowling.