In these difficult economic times, we need to stretch our money further. Some Groups have found ways to save money and do things better. Here are their ideas - feed back your own ideas at the bottom of this page.
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Walks programmes, newsletters, websites and publicity
Use of email and internet for walks programmes and communication: some Groups (especially the 20s-30s) are entirely electronic with communications, but most Groups have members not on the internet, so need to continue with paper communications to some degree.
Discussed opt-in vs opt-out into electronic communications. Some people favour an opt-out system e.g. walks programmes on Group website, saving on postage costs, with an opt-in to paper copies. However, others prefer to have an opt-in to electronic communications.
It was pointed out that electronic communications can transfer the cost to individuals if it is necessary to print off themselves.
Suggested that Central Office should actively collect member email addresses and share with Areas and Groups. [Note: member email addresses are now provided in the electronic membership reports. Central Office would welcome additional email addresses from Groups.]
Some Groups are able to negotiate lower fees for website hosting, although may not always be possible.
Number of walks programmes per year varies between two and four. Some Groups adopt a rolling walks programme rather than setting in advance – a more casual arrangement.
Where newsletters are sent on paper, these can be posted with walks programmes, with weight kept low enough to avoid increasing the postage costs.
Some Groups co-ordinate sending out walks programmes/newsletters with their Area to save time and costs. However, the timings do not always match to be able to do this.
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Meetings, administration and governance
Area Council meetings: frequency between three and six times per year. One Area tried to cut down to three times per year, but this didn’t work as it caused a loss in momentum and issues to be missed.
Informal Area meetings: around four per year.
Group meetings: between one and six per year. 20s-30s Groups generally have fewer meetings.
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Income generation (fundraising, publications)
Possibility of generating income through production and sales of walks publications.
Groups can generate income through selling advertising space in walks programme, newsletters or on website, provided this is sold to organisations relevant to the Ramblers charitable aims.
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Walks related expenditure (including walk leader expenses)
Maps: some volunteers said that members are asked to contribute to the cost of purchasing maps. Others use a map borrowing service from a library. Some expect walks leaders to provide their own maps.
Free walk leader training may be available e.g. from ‘Walks for Health’ in Suffolk.
Walk leader expenses: Some Groups set coach trip prices to include a recce expenses element, paid to the walks leader.
In a straw poll of those present in the discussion, on whether the Ramblers should pay walk leader expenses, 2 said Yes, 5 said No, and 3 Didn’t vote.
However, this vote did not reflect the distinction between coach trips and other Group walks. Most people were happy for coaches to subsidise recce expenses, but not happy for Ramblers as an organisation to meet this cost.
Some people thought that we cannot say a blanket ‘no’ on paying out recce expenses. Instead we should not pay recce expenses unless the individual is in financial hardship. However, this cannot be judged by the Group/Area committee –the system has to operate on trust.
General agreement that where recce expenses are paid, they should only pay for one recce per walk, unless sufficient time has passed since the previous recce to warrant carrying out another recce.
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Coaches, holidays and socials
Social events: trips, BBQ, skittles etc. These should aim for breakeven, but a small incidental surplus is fine. Same applies to coaches and holidays.
Surpluses shouldn’t be allowed to accumulate, but should either be used on charitable activities or to subsidise future events.
Volunteer expenses: Most thought that volunteers should be able to claim their legitimate expenses on Ramblers business (e.g. travel to meetings, cost of printing etc). However, recce expenses not included in this.
Some suggested that claims can be made and then donated back to the Group, although this would have administrative implications.
Small claims can be rolled-up together to reduce Treasurer workload.
Some felt that central policies are not needed as these are set locally, but others felt that some co-ordination and consistency is needed.
Car sharing should be encouraged – voluntary contribution to be made to driver, at a suggested rate.
