Here is what fundraising we are doing, and why.

Why?
Scouting is an activity that aims to bring out the best in the young people, and leaders in the organisation. To do this there are many opportunities available to take part in a wide variety of activites and events. Some of these are free, and some are quite expensive. The group should be inclusive for all members, regardless of their financial backgrounds and occasionally additional funds are required to allow all members of the group to take part in an activity, or to provide the equipment required for the activities.

If the group has finances available, more activities can be run to provide an extra variety for the members of the Scout group.

Where does the money come from
A Scout group income can be split into 3 areas, subscriptions, activity fees and donations.
Subscriptions pay for the running of the Scout group
Activity Fees pay for the running of specific activities
Neither Subscriptions nor activity fees result in a profit to the Scout group
Donations pay for reducing activity costs and to replace expensive items of equipment (with donations I am including things such as selling things, raffles and so on).

Most of this income is provided by the members of the Scout group, with the exception being donations. When fund raising the main idea is the increase the amount of money donated to the group from people who are not connected with the group. It is no good trying to reduce the cost of, say a camp to the young people or their parents by asking the young people or their parents to donate goods or money to the group - they end up paying the same!!

Where the money is spent
The money received is spent for the benefit of the young people in the Scout group and can be split into 5 main areas:
1. Payment to Headquarters - this covers things such as Insurance, programme planning, information and such like. This costs approximately 1 terms subscription money for each child.
2. Annual meeting costs - this covers expenses for consumable such as arts and crafts materials, badges, training aids, as well as the cost to hire the village hall
3. Activity costs - to cover the costs for the camps and activities, such as food, accommodation, vehicle hire (as required)
4. Equipment - such as the camping equipment. This has to be good quality, and sturdy and as such costs many hundred of pounds. This cost is for new equipment and repairing and maintaining the old equipment
5. Leadership costs and group running costs - such as training the leaders to be the best that they can be, stationary, headquarters fees (same as for the young people - insurance etc), etc.

Some of these costs have to be paid, for example insurance payments and hire of a meeting place. Other expenses can be paid as and when funds are available such as new equipment costs and subsidising activities for the Scouts.