Our Sliding Scale

We use a sliding scale to widen access to our work and ensure all can benefit, regardless of their financial position.

Financial injustice is baked into the fabric of our economy and means that those we most want to benefit from our work often struggle with the cost. That’s why we use a sliding scale, alongside fundraising for bursaries. We never want finances to be a barrier to working with us.

How it Works

We have two pricing systems, one for organisations and one for individuals. The standard price tickets reflect the true cost of delivering our programmes. We offer tickets higher than this for those who are in the privileged position of being able to pay-it-forward. We also offer subsidised and bursary tickets for those who need financial support.

Please be mindful that if you purchase a ticket at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford a higher ticket price, you are limiting access to those who truly need a bursary place.

FOR ORGANISATIONS & SCHOOLS

3 Tiers

High (independent fee-paying schools and organisations earning £100k+ a year – this price also widens access for those on lower income)

Medium (for non-fee paying schools, organisations earning between £20-100k a year – this price reflects the true cost of delivering our services)

Low (for schools rated ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, for organisations earning under £20k a year)

FOR INDIVIDUALS

We don’t ask you to prove your income or share any financial information. Instead we trust you to be a good person, and support others by practicing honesty. You can choose from up to four ticket prices on our sliding scale, which is adapted from The Sliding Scale: A Tool For Economic Justice created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk.

4 Tiers

▶ Abundant  – for those who can pay-it-forward

▶ Standard – for those at the higher end of our sliding scale and can pay the true cost of the service

▶ Subsidised – for those in the middle of our sliding scale

▶ Bursary – for those at the bottom end of our sliding scale

ABUNDANT

This is a good range to choose if:
  • I never struggle to meet my basic needs*
  • I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property
  • I own a car
  • I am employed OR I do not need to work to meet my needs
  • I have access to savings
  • I have expendable income**
  • I regularly buy new items
  • I can easily afford more than one holiday a year

STANDARD

This is a good range to choose if:
  • I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic needs*
  • I may have some debt but it doesn’t prohibit the attainment of basic needs*
  • I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property
  • I own a car
  • I am employed OR I do not need to work to meet my needs
  • I have access to savings
  • I have expendable income**
  • I can afford to buy new items
  • I can afford an annual holiday, or to take time off work

SUPPORTED

This is a good range to choose if:
  • I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them*
  • I may have some debt but it does not prohibit my attainment of basic needs*
  • I rent a mid-level flat/property and have stable housing
  • I own or lease a car
  • I am employed
  • I might have access to financial savings
  • I have expendable income**
  • I am able to buy some new and second hand items
  • I take a holiday annually or every few years without financial burden

BURSARY

This is a good range to choose if:
  • I frequently stress about meeting basic needs + don’t always achieve them*
  • I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs*
  • I rent a lower-end flat/property or have unstable housing
  • I do not have a car or access to a car
  • I am unemployed or underemployed
  • I qualify for government assistance
  • I have no access to savings
  • I have no or very limited expendable income**
  • I rarely buy new items because I’m unable to afford them
  • I cannot afford a holiday or to take time off without financial burden

Definitions

Basic needs: access to food, safety, shelter/housing, privacy and transportation

Expendable income: might mean you’re able to buy a coffee from a café, go to the cinema, buy new clothes, books etc.