Affordability and guiding

How financial challenges may affect members

We recognise that some members may experience financial challenges in different ways. For example, they may be impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, being from lower socio-economic backgrounds, or experiencing generational poverty.

Cost of living

The increasing cost of living is having an impact on many across our membership, even if they haven’t had financial worries before. Rising prices for essentials like food, rent, and energy mean many families and individuals are under financial pressure, even if they’re working. Families that can usually manage guiding costs may experience temporary strain that can stop a girl from taking part.

Lower socio-economic families and members

Welcoming girls and volunteers from lower socio-economic backgrounds (where the income is 60% below the average household) is a key part of our inclusion plan. We know these families may face financial barriers that affect how they can take part in guiding. Some families may be comfortable paying for certain costs like subscriptions or uniforms, but may struggle with extra or unexpected costs such as trips. Others may not have the time, headspace or confidence to ask for help.

The cost-of-living crisis is also having a deeper effect on lower-income households, as many have less of a buffer against rising costs or unexpected expenses.

Financial hardship and generational poverty

Some families experience poverty across generations. Generational poverty is when a family has been living with financial challenges for 2 or more generations. This could mean they regularly struggle to cover essential costs like food, housing and bills. This can often come with lack of home ownership and stability, education or job stability.

Some families experiencing generational poverty may struggle to pay for everyday guiding costs such as subs, uniform or transport to meetings.

Girls in these families may:

• Miss meetings more often or arrive without equipment.
• Need extra encouragement to participate.
• Have limited support at home with forms, emails or reminders.
• Have limited access to technology like phones or laptops, the internet, and resources or materials like paper or colouring pens.
• Have limited access to quiet areas, physical space, desks or tables or free time.

Ways to support members with affordability and accessibility

Volunteers don’t need to know the full details of a family’s situation to offer support. Being open, flexible, and discreet can help families to feel more comfortable staying involved in guiding.

Providing spare equipment, reminders and a consistent welcoming environment can help girls stay involved even if they’re experiencing challenges at home. Here are some ways to provide support.

• It’s important not to assume a lack of interest if members don’t attend regularly. Instead, we can build positive relationships over time, offer support without judgement, and keep communication clear and friendly.
• By sharing information and reminders about available support and grants, we can help to normalise different financial situations and show that it’s OK to ask for help. To avoid embarrassing or stigmatizing anyone, we can share this information consistently with all families and carers, rather than singling anyone out. For example, we can include reminders at the bottom of each newsletters, or on trip emails and letters.
• National celebration days are a great opportunity to raise awareness about different topics and share information about support organisations.
• Let parents or carers and young members know they can speak to you in confidence if costs are a concern, without requiring families to explain their circumstances.
• Acknowledge there are barriers to volunteering for some parents or carers and accept that it’ll be difficult for some adults to help.
• Encourage cost effective ways that parents and carers can help the unit, like donating old uniform or materials for activities. It’s important to celebrate these kinds of contributions as well as financial donations, so all families and girls feel appreciated and included.
• We can help tackle period poverty by having period products available for anyone who might need them.
• UMAs can help you to start conversations about money in your unit. Did you know we have a whole money topic in the UMAs? You could try the following activities:
  • Rainbows – fruit shop
  • Brownies – need vs want
  • Guides – savvy shopper
  • Rangers – independent spenders

Ways to keep guiding costs affordable

We know some members may need support with costs associated with joining guiding. These could include subscriptions, uniforms, activities, and cost of trips including transport. We want you to be able to support all girls and volunteers to feel included and able to join in.

Here are some practical ways you can make adjustments to keep costs low.

• Rather than asking for large sums to be paid in one go, offer payment plans (allowing small payments to be made regularly or over a period of time).
• Remind families that they can use pre-loved uniforms. Agree on a minimum uniform requirement for your unit, for example just a top.
• Give plenty of notice and reminders before asking for larger payments and offer flexibility in when and how payments are made.
• Use some unit funds to provide lower cost membership if you know someone is struggling.
• Keep costs as low as possible for trips, materials, and activities.
• Use some unit funds to subsidise those who may not otherwise take part in these activities, either with ticket, transport or equipment costs.
• Offer a wide range of activities, with plenty of options that don’t have attached costs.
• Use grants for support with costs associated to going away or doing activities.
• Consider which costs are essential, and think about any additional joining fees you are asking for.

Supporting volunteers facing financial challenges

Volunteers also face financial pressures, which can affect their ability to take part fully. Here are some ways you can help support volunteers.

• Normalise volunteers claiming back their expenses - guiding shouldn’t leave volunteers out of pocket. Lead by example and share openly to encourage those that may need it most.
• Create a kind and inclusive team culture where it feels safe to ask for help. Openly offering to speak to volunteers privately can help to do this. If a volunteer seems to be struggling, don’t feel afraid to check in privately, with care and sensitivity.
• Try using national celebration days to raise awareness and share information about what support organisations and resources are available. For example, Financial Awareness Day takes place on 14 August in the UK, and 17 October is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
• Let volunteers know you can be flexible with volunteering expectations.
• Signpost volunteers to relevant grants, wellbeing support, and local funds consistently and openly, and as needed.

Useful resources

• Gift Aid on subs.
• Save on VAT for new buildings.
• Activities for girls – ‘I’m money confident’.
• Payments and expenses.
• How to help your kids to have a good relationship with money.

Grants and financial support

We have a number of grants to give units, girls and volunteers a helping hand so they can fully participate in guiding.

To help break down financial barriers, volunteers can:

• Use these funding options proactively to support members.
• Make families aware of support options privately and sensitively.
• Ensure support is easy to access without requiring detailed explanations.

There are various grants available at UK and local level to help support our members. Find out more about grants and funding.

Organisations providing support and advice

• Turn2us – national charity that helps people in financial hardship to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.
• StepChange – charity organisation which offers free advice on debt and money management.
• Money Advice Trust – national charity helping people across the UK to tackle their debts and manage their money with confidence.
• The Money Advice Service - set up by the government, they offer free and impartial money advice on issues like debt and benefits.
• The Trussell Trust - supports a nationwide network of food banks. They provide emergency food and support to people facing hardship.
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation - an independent social change organisation, working to support a future free from poverty.
• Gingerbread - charity supporting the wellbeing and rights of single parents and their families.
• Citizens Advice - national charity for everyone. They offer advice in person, online and over the phone on matters including debt, money and financial worries.