We have written this FAQ to help you with questions you may have regarding the event-booking and money-spending side of scouting.
Please, if at all possible, avoid asking our leaders for their time at the weekly meetings or at events and camps – they are always busy looking after the children in their care and are encouraged to do this. They may not, therefore, be able to leave the area unattended or concentrate on helping you efficiently with your query.
We hope that you will find the answer to your financial question here. If you can’t, please contact us and we will be happy to help you – and then we can add another FAQ to our list!
Thank you for your understanding and support of our Scout Group.
Why do I have to pay subs?
The Scouts is a membership organization and all Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts pay a subscription fee (‘subs’) to be a member.
How much are subs and do I pay them?
It’s easy! Subs are £12 per month and are payable by direct debit through Online Scout Manager, or OSM for short.
We’ll send you an email from OSM asking you to setup a direct debit for £12 per month. That’s it!
We’ll cancel the payments if your child leaves the Scout Group.
Can’t I just pay cash?
If the leaders took cash from parents each month there would be an awful lot of money floating around each week with nobody to look after it properly while everybody is busy doing the important stuff – Scouting. Paying through OSM is safer and easier – and you don’t have to remember to pay every month that way!
Why do I pay subs for August when the Group doesn’t meet then?
Our Group’s subs are not calculated by meeting dates, which happen both in term time and also on occasions in the school holidays.
We could ask for the full annual fee in advance, like a gym, but we don’t feel that’s the right thing to do.
We could ask for payment termly, but this is still quite a large amount to pay in one go.
We feel that taking monthly payments makes budgeting for families easier. A monthly direct debit makes this payment easier for everyone.
Where does the money get spent?
Almost half of the subs we collect is paid directly to District, County and national Scouting, leaving a little over half for our Scout Group.
Your child’s subs pay for:
- your child’s membership of the Scout Association, which includes public liability and personal accident insurance, and national headquarters’ staff costs
- Hertfordshire County Scouts and Ware District Scouts costs
- uniforms and training for our adult volunteers
- maintenance and running costs of our Scout HQ e.g. building and contents insurance, electric, water, cleaning, maintenance
- the activities we run e.g. weekly activity equipment, camp site fees, entry tickets and food
- equipment that is used by all the sections, both at the HQ and when they are out and about e.g. tents, cooking equipment
- scarves and the badges that your child earns in Scouting
How much do leaders get paid?
Nothing, nada, zilch, zero…
All of our leaders and every adult involved in our Group gives their time, skills and efforts voluntarily and without payment of any kind.
Does our Scout Group get any other funding than our subs?
Your subs are what keep us going. Our Group does not receive any regular external funding.
We are occasionally lucky enough to benefit from donations by parents, or grants from companies, organisation, or local/national authorities who wish to support us.
Who is responsible for the Scout Group finances?
The Executive Committee (Charity Trustees) is responsible for ensuring that the Scout Group’s finances are secure and spent wisely. The committee meets monthly and a finance report is a standing agenda item.
If you have any questions about the Exec or are interested in joining to help out, please let us know!
I have not received the OSM invitation email
No problem. Let your child’s leader know and they will resend it.
I have received the email but now I’ve lost my OSM password
No problem. Just use the Forgotten Password feature at onlinescoutmanager.co.uk.
Can I do Gift Aid?
Yes please! We record Gift Aid in OSM and send emails to parents asking them to opt in if they are eligible.
If you need help, contact us and we will come to your aid! And …THANK YOU!
My child wants to attend an event but it’s a lot of money… can I pay it in small amounts?
No worries. Contact us and we will arrange for you to speak to someone in complete confidence.
The reason we Scout is to give the young people in our Group the opportunity to take part in a wide range of exciting and happy experiences – if your child wants to be a part of it, we want to help you find a way to make it happen.
Help! I can’t pay for an event or for subs! What do I do?
Please contact us if you’re having difficulty affording any aspect of Scouting, as we may be able to help with instalments or other help to ensure everyone gets the best chance of Scouting
