THE PRICE OF THE SESSION IS NOT ALWAYS THE COST OF PARTICIPATION.
1. Work out the whole cost
| Cost | Your estimate | Can anything reduce it? |
|---|---|---|
| Session / entry / membership | £_____ | _____ |
| Travel / fuel / fares | £_____ | _____ |
| Parking | £_____ | _____ |
| Equipment | £_____ | _____ |
| Food / drink | £_____ | _____ |
| Childcare / caring cover | £_____ | _____ |
| Accommodation | £_____ | _____ |
| Other | £_____ | _____ |
2. Which cost changes the decision?
If only one barrier could be reduced, which would make the biggest difference? ____________________
3. Check support options
- Equipment loan or Equipment Bank.
- Travel support or shared travel arranged under appropriate safeguarding rules.
- Bursary/reduced-cost entry where available.
- Earlier or more predictable scheduling.
- Local or regional delivery to reduce distance.
- Clear public-transport and parking information.
4. Travel is more than mileage
Consider departure time, return time, public transport after late finishes, safe pickup/drop-off, accommodation, disability access and whether somebody is relying on another participant for transport. For under-18s, transport must follow approved safeguarding arrangements.
5. Childcare and family commitments
Ask what part creates the barrier: the session itself, travel time, an unpredictable finish, weekend timing, lack of appropriate arrangements for accompanying children, or the actual childcare cost.
ALLOWING A CHILD TO ACCOMPANY A PARENT IS NOT THE SAME AS PROVIDING CHILDCARE. An organisation taking responsibility for supervising children needs a proper safeguarding and operational model.
6. Caring and work
Participation may be affected by elder care, disability support, shift work or other responsibilities as well as childcare. Advance information and reliable timing can sometimes be as valuable as financial support.
7. If applying for support
Eights and Arrows should request evidence proportionate to the decision. Support applicants should not routinely have to provide unnecessary debt records, complete bank histories, diagnoses or personal stories. Receiving support must not automatically create consent for publicity or a testimonial.
For clubs: redesign as well as subsidise
A bursary can help one person. If many people face the same barrier, ask whether the programme itself could change — timing, location, equipment provision, entry structure or travel model.
SUPPORT THE PARTICIPANT — AND EXAMINE THE SYSTEM.