Emergency Appeals during Lockdown

Depends a bit what you get for life membership - for example, on the Bluebell, a member gets discounted travel (about 50% off) but a life member gets free 1st class travel for life - so a life membership is worth more than just n * annual membership.

Of course, different people will have a different view of where they sit with regard how much they see membership as a financial transaction, and how much a donation to support a cause they support; that will affect how you perceive the cost / benefit.

Having said that - a "Corona member" is a good idea for front loading people's subs. I know on the Bluebell (and I think on other railways) there are discounted options for multi-year memberships (I think 5 years for the price of 4) but those sorts of things would be worth promoting.

Tom

 

Foxfield has launched its appeal

https://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/emergency-appeal

Jon

 

Would railways prefer people to give a straight donation or join as members/supporters? Ideally I suppose, both - but if only one were possible which is best for the railways?

 

Membership incurs costs (magazines etc), admin time and the funds may be restricted, while donations are hard cash to cover their lack of ticket revenue. So I'd say donations at the moment.

 

With the caveat that membership provides for a longer term relationship, so may have a longer term value to the organisation. Not necessarily an easy choice.

 

But for now, I think they need hard cash to fill the gap in their finances.

 

I agree. Which is why I mentioned it as a caveat, not a reason to prefer membership.

 

Indeed, normally the received wisdom is that a long term small, reliable financial commitment is better than a bigger lump of cash at random points in time, but right now I think the bigger lumps of cash will be more welcome!

 

If donating DON'T FORGET to Gift Aid it as this increases the donation by 20% at no extra charge to the donor.

 

IF you are a UK taxpayer, it increases the value by 25%.

I stress the point because, dealing with my church planned giving, I find that many of the retired donors are on pensions below the level at which Income Tax is payable following rises in the threshold over the last 10 years. And HMRC do check the data and I have had donors approach me following an HMRC letter.

 

A few of our enthusiastic volunteers from the operations department at Swanage Railway have put together a video for our ‘Save Our Services’ appeal:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3665443533526412

Thanks to many extremely generous donations £41,495 has been raised so far (07/04/20).

However, despite nearly all of our staff being furloughed, the railway will still incur overhead costs such as rent for the station buildings and the leased track bed. The effects of COVID-19 are already having a financial impact and will continue to do so, potentially for years to come.

Any contribution, no matter how big or small, will be gratefully received and help make a difference during these difficult times. Please support the railway and Save Our Service!

To donate head to:
www.saveourservice.co.uk


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Thanks to the idea (Tom's?) put forward on here, my canal society is now asking volunteers to donate what would be their travel costs to our depot and Lock 14 if we weren't in a state of shutdown.

It's such a simple measure to help in a difficult situation - the "keep it simple" methods are the best.

 

I asked the NYMR whether it would help if I joined as member in response to an official Facebook post before they launched their appeal. They said it would so I joined and am now enjoying the latest copy of Moors Line which they have sent electronically

 

QED!

 

The fact that heritage lines are getting donations has to be seen as positive, even if they do not fulfill hopes. All charities and many other small businesses are looking for donations, so demands for money are great. Many people who would normally contribute also find themselves in monetary need so will have to decline making any donations. Times are going to be hard and some lines will fall by the wayside.
Many projects will have to be shelved it seems as they will not be the first call for any cash.

 

Deleted - posted twice for some reason

 

I wish the rules relating to furloughed staff where a bit more relaxed with regard to charities and not for profit organisations. If you are furloughed, as I understand it, you can not do any work for your employer even as a volunteer, or you are not supposed to. If you do and are caught your employer would have to repay.

For charities and not for profit organisation only I would like to see that relaxed so that once it is deemed safe enough for some to return to work, even if railways cannot reopen to the public, staff could return and the employer receive the furloughed contribution. That at least would mean staff could do some ongoing maintenance, prepare for reopening etc. Presently railways are going have to balance whether they can afford to bring staff back until they start having income again against whether they have to have those staff, whatever the effect on finances, as they are needed for maintenance etc.

If I have hot the rules wrong I apologies and please just ignore this post. It was just when they first announced the support for staff I hoped it would have enabled staff to continue to do some work so whilst no income was a major downside at least railways could catch up on or complete some work. I cannot see railways opening for peak season but if they are then some railways could be short of locos, stock or have PW matters outstanding as they had to down tools so could not complete in the quieter operating months.

I presume that virtually all railways have furloughed virtually all staff but it would be interesting if any have kept a fair percentage on so they can carry on "essential" work that they can not do from home whilst practising physical distancing.

 

I understand the impulse to want charity workers to be able to volunteer, but the other side of that is the risk that unscrupulous employers (not necessarily unknown in the charity sector either) will stop paying wages, take the subsidy, and then benefit from the work of those people.


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Does anyone have details for the Epping & Ongar, I emailed them to ask about making a donation and haven't had a reply..
(Although I titled the email "cov19 donation" so maybe they decided they didn't want any...)