Subs FAQ

FAQs

From January 2026, Hackney Woodcraft Folk will have a new bank account and new subs rates.    

What is the best way to make Subs Donations?

Please set up a monthly Standing Order (if your bank will allow it, you can also pay termly - 4 monthly - if you prefer).

When do I need to do this?

You should cancel your existing Standing Order now and set up a new one to start from January 2026.  

I'm donating for more than one child - can I combine them?

You can, but if you set up a separate Standing Order for each (with the correct reference), it does make things simpler for me.

I'm donating for more than one child / have restricted income.  How much should I pay?
All our subs (and camp) rates are suggested voluntary donation amounts.  Don’t think of it as a fee, think of it as a donation to support the work of our charitable organisation.   As such we can’t directly answer your question.

We suggest £30/ term as this is what we estimate our costs are.
We suggest a reduced rate for siblings and those on restricted incomes of £20/term.

What counts as a restricted income? - I don’t know.  Everyone’s circumstances are different.

Is that £30 for the first child and £20 for subsequent, or £20 for all? - I don’t know.  Some people do one, some the other and some donate the full ask for both.

Some people donate £1/month, others donate £10/month.

Donate as much as you feel our work is worth, or you can afford.

What about payments for camps and other things? - From January, all payments should go to the new Unity Trust account. Please delete the old account details.

What happens if I accidentally pay into the old Coop bank account? - Don’t worry, the money will still find its way to HWF. The old account will stay open for a few months to catch any errant payments.

I still need to make a donation for subs or a camp / activity from 2025! - no problem (and thank you).  If it’s before the 1st January, please use the old account details as normal. After that, you can donate to the new account.

Why have we put up Subs? - The decision to increase subs was made at the Summer District Meeting.  Our suggested subs rates have not changed since 2018.   While the District is in a good financial position, a lot of our costs are increasing, particularly hall (or playground) rent.  Additionally, the amount we have to pay National for group and individual registrations will go up around 20% in 2026 and will continue to increase over future years.  Lifting subs now will allow us to continue to operate securely, support those that cannot afford to donate, and maintain a reserve fund against the unexpected.

Why have we moved banks? - There has been a long-standing request from National for Districts to move to Unity Trust (our account comes under a Woodcraft umbrella account).  In addition, recently the Coop changed the way they handled payments from personal Coop accounts, which meant people could not add bank references.  This has caused a lot of confusion.

What about my adult membership? - This has not changed.

If adults volunteer regularly at group nights, or attend any Woodcraft residential, they will also need to be a National ADULT member for insurance and safeguarding purposes.  This is separate to the Subs donations above and is paid directly to National Woodcraft Folk, usually by Direct Debit. This currently costs £43/year (£12/year for low-waged).  

More info on National Adult Volunteer Membership here.

Why have we changed bank references? - City Farm groups have been re-named HAGGERSTON to reflect their change of location.  Meanwhile, for a long time, Clapton groups have been using the old Hackney Downs reference (HD). 

I’m taking this opportunity to update both of these groups’ references.  

So from January, Haggerston groups (formerly City Farm) will use HG and Clapton groups will use CL (plus E or P for elfins or pioneers). Stoke Newington and Venturer groups remain unchanged.

The full list of references is here.

All this finance stuff is fascinating. How can I find out more or get involved in helping? - I know. Personally, I love it - but I’m more than willing to share that joy. We are, after all, a cooperative organisation. If you like a spreadsheet, or just a bit of admin, there are a variety of ways you can help out at both group and district level. Get in touch with Tom A.

Just want more info about our finances?  You can look at last year’s accounts summary here.