[Edit: August 2023
We have changed the names of our prices since this post was written, but we’ve left it off so you can read more about the background to our pricing. And as part of our story.]
A few people have mentioned to us that they were unsure about our pricing or that they didn’t understand the gaps between the different ticket amounts; so we thought we’d tell you a little more about the thinking behind our prices. We know this is an unusual model and we want to be transparent and open with all our Villagers about how it works and develops.
Our mission
Part of the reason that we started The Village is that we all experienced a lack of support as new parents. Between us we struggled with accessing help for physical recovery from birth, postnatal mental health issues and meeting parent friends. With most of these, if you have money, you can pay for the help you need. This was sometimes the case for some of us – and we appreciate how lucky we are that this was an option – but some of us struggled to get the right support.
When building The Village, we knew we wanted to try and change this for other parents. We want people to know where to find support and to be able to access it financially when they do. So we created our pricing system.
Everyone deserves the same support
It’s not like the theatre, where you pay a different price depending on your seat. All of our Villagers deserve and get the same high-quality support. We don’t want anyone to feel they are getting the wellbeing version of sitting behind a pillar! Once you’ve booked, there is no difference in the service you receive and your experience at The Village.
Who pays what?
Coming up with the prices themselves is an art rather than an exact science, especially at this early stage and we know we will continue to evolve it as we go on. The gaps between each price might seem a little strange, but that is because each ticket is aimed at a different person, in different circumstances.
A Price One person is very comfortable and financially secure. They own their home, have no problems paying bills and take more than one holiday a year. They generally don’t have to think twice before having a spontaneous lunch at a cafe when they are out and about or buying a pair of trousers that tickles their fancy on Instagram. They have a lot of love for the community they live in as well as some disposable income and don’t mind paying a little over the odds to help The Village in its mission to make parental wellbeing accessible for everyone.
A Price Two person is fairly secure financially. They may own their home or rent, but never (or very rarely) panic that they may miss a mortgage or rent payment. They can pay their bills and take a holiday each year. They can get a coffee whenever they feel like it and treat themselves to a meal out or take away now and then.
A Price Three person may be struggling. They could be in low paid, insecure work or receiving benefits such as Universal Credit. They worry each month about their rent and bills and have to think twice before stepping onto a bus. They can’t afford many treats and are possibly visiting a food bank.
What are the prices?
So, the prices: we try to make Price Two roughly market rate. We look at what you would normally pay for a baby class, exercise class etc in our local area and match that. Then for Price One, we add a little bit more. This amount does not exactly cover the cost of a lower priced ticket, it’s more a case of kicking in a few extra quid because you can and because you want to support our work.
Price Three is so much lower because it’s basically a free ticket, but charging a nominal amount helps us to cover a few costs. We also know from experience that people would prefer to contribute financially if they can, and we hope that by paying a small fee these Villagers feel as much of a stakeholder in the organisation as anyone else. And if you really can’t afford a Price Three ticket, then please email us and we can help.
An equitable future
As our tickets are limited, please do let us know if you can’t make it as we’d love to be able to offer your spot to someone else. You can transfer your ticket to another week at no cost by clicking on the ‘view booking’ button in your confirmation email. Next to the event details, click ‘ticket options’ and then ‘transfer ticket’.
We are excited about our pricing model because we feel this could be the future. A sustainable not-for-profit business offering wellbeing and support services that everyone can access, but not a charity that needs to constantly chase funding or a public service at the mercy of government cuts.
If you have any thoughts or questions about our prices, feel free to chat to us when you come in on a Wednesday or email us. We always love hearing from our Villagers.
