News
Charging Policy
B.D.C. CHARGING POLICY
No doubt you will be aware of increasing budget pressures due to the economic downturn. In recent months there have been a number of articles in the press highlighting Brixham Does Care as a Charity whose funding may be affected.
You will I am sure also recall the item in this newsletter a few months ago pointing out the difficulties and uncertainty of funding that Brixham Does Care may receive. At the time of writing the issue of our contract with Torbay Care Trust remains unresolved.
Given all of this and the difficulty in planning for the future the committee took the initiative and formulated a charging policy for all those using Brixham Does Care services and facilities.
We all face demanding times, Brixham Does Care has always maintained an excellent reputation and is valued as a Befriending Charity by the people of Brixham and surrounding communities. We now need your continued support to maintain the work we undertake and offer to local people.
This charging policy will formally commence on the 1st January 2012 and will be regularly reviewed.
The fundamental implications are as follows:-
THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE WILL BE £5:00
(The membership fee had not been increased in the last 10 years. For that reason and the fact that costs have dramatically and considerably raised it was agreed the membership fee should also rise).
Membership fees will be reviewed annually and will be renewable in January each year. There will however be distinct advantages in becoming a member i.e. At least 10% discount on all coach outings, automatic entry to play bingo, discount on mini bus outings etc.
AND . . . . . . . . . .
There will also be a new “MEMBERS PRIZEDRAW”. In March all fully paid up members names will be entered into a draw. Only members who have fully paid their annual membership fee by the 31st January 2012 will be entered into the draw. Those who join part way through the year will NOT be eligible but would be entered into the draw from the following January. There will be one lucky winner who will receive 2 tickets for a Brixham Does Care event in the coming months. Details will appear in the February 2012 newsletter and the winners name published in the April newsletter.
GROUPS/ACTIVITIES/EVENTS
This topic proved to be the source of many difficult discussions. To keep matters as straightforward as possible the following will apply from 1st January 2012.
Each individual attending a group etc. will be asked to pay £1:00.
This will cover a hot or cold drink and include a contribution towards the cost of premises rent.
Brixham Does Care pays rent quarterly to Torbay Council for the rooms and services it uses during the day. Annually this amount is approximately £5,000 (add in insurances and equipment etc., and the figure rises well above £6,000). The users of Brixham Does Care up until this point had not previously been asked to contribute to this expense.
MINI BUS TRIPS
Equally this topic has caused endless debate but we have had to reach a conclusion. The new mini bus we purchased in December 2010 has proved very popular. We are now making many more regular trips and venturing a little further knowing that it will be able to make all those steep hills! The fuel costs even in the past 12 months have had a significant impact on our mini bus fuel bill.
The equation for paying for mini bus journeys is most complex. It depends on distance, numbers of people on the mini bus, fuel cost, the time the whole trip takes and the time it takes to organise. We decided therefore from January 2012 for journeys outside of Torbay each individual will be asked to contribute, dependent upon the overall distance the of the trip.
For example a trip to Exeter Christmas shopping.
With a 75% full bus would result in each person paying: Members £4 Non members £4:50
Journeys will continue to be calculated in this way.
For mini bus journeys predominately in and around Brixham i.e. for those going to the lunch club, attending the Ladies group on Wednesdays or the Men’s group on Mondays a figure of £1 would be paid by each individual.
CAFÉ COSTS
All charges for refreshments in the café will be looked at closely. Brixham Does Care wants to maintain the value of the café without costs becoming inhibitive.
We will consider the costs to us, charged by the supplier and revise the menu and costs accordingly. The café will remain competitive in its pricing and a place to come to meet friends (make new ones) and enjoy some light refreshments.
All of these costs will be reviewed annually and any changes would be introduced in the January of each year (unless something spectacular took place i.e. the price of coffee beans went sky high, obviously we would need to respond to market prices).
There are many ways in which you can help Brixham Does Care to continue offering the level of services we provide. The following are some examples:-
Becoming a member
Using our café for low cost refreshments and meet friends
Visiting our Charity Shop in Middle Street (making a donation of goods to our Shop)
Using our facilities and working with us as fundraiser or as a volunteer
Making a donation (don’t forget ‘gift aid’ form if appropriate)
Making a covenant or legacy
Telling your friends and family about the work we do
Supporting our events and activities.
Brixham Does Care so very much values the support it receives from every individual and local business. With your help we will continue to be available to assist all those who come to us and together we will face the future and find a way forward.
Without you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . we wouldn’t be here.
THE ANNUAL COST TO KEEP BRIXHAM DOES CARE
OPERATIONAL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31-03-2011
Expenditure: 139,850
Income: 142,303
(Excess income relates to mini bus fundraising).
Brixham Does Care is Open 34.5 Hours per week
34.5 hours per week x 52 weeks in a year = 1794 hours open per year.
Divide total expenditure of £139,850 by 1794 hours = £78.00
Therefore to keep Brixham Does Care operation for
1 Hour = £78
1 Week = £2,691
1 Month = £11,655
1 Year = £139,850
These annual figures were taken from the audit accounts in the Annual Report 01.04.2010. to 31.03.2011.
The figures will obviously vary from year to year as an example the annual expenditure in the financial year 2009/2010 was £145,157.
