Chester Zoo Chester Zoo told to prepare to remain closed indefinitely

Although justgiving have waved some administration fees from these covid related fundraisers, they are still collecting a nice little sum for themselves.
Chester have expressed thanks to those of us that are not requesting our memberships be extended beyond the original expiry dates, so paying that lump sum can have made a difference if we all do it.
I asked before, but is paying for membership to a zoo, or buying an annual ticket more beneficial to a zoo than paying for three or more visits?
 
Andrew Swales said:
A donation is just that - an adoption is classed by HMRC as 'income' and will have tax taken from it, along with admin costs, and the cost of whatever materials, postage and services make up the adoption pack.
Click to expand...

Good job I made a donation then as I wanted to make sure they got the most from it, and also made sure I signed up to gift aid.
 
Andrew Swales said:
Its great what the BBC can do for its selected 'targets'.
BUT - how are the other 400 zoos doing? Have any of them received any more than us?
Chester should be fine for another month or two now, so maybe that will give the Government the excuse it needs to do nothing, and then the rest of us will suffer from Chester's success...
Oh dear - I must go and lie down, I can feel another conspiracy theory coming on...
Click to expand...

Andrew, if it’s any consolation, I sent a donation to Hamerton’s page 48 hours ago. It’s not much I’m afraid, but hope it’s of some help.:)
 
littleRedPanda said:
I asked before, but is paying for membership to a zoo, or buying an annual ticket more beneficial to a zoo than paying for three or more visits?
Click to expand...
In our case we use a simple multiplier of three, which I think is quite common?
So, your 4th visit or more (in the year) would benefit you if you had a season ticket, or us if you didn't.
BUT thinking about it... if you were a regular visitor, the most beneficial (to the zoo, using our example) would be to buy the season ticket (which would be classed as a sale and therefore be taxable etc), but then make donations during visits 4 onwards, which would not be.
 
Andrew Swales said:
In our case we use a simple multiplier of three, which I think is quite common?
So, your 4th visit or more (in the year) would benefit you if you had a season ticket, or us if you didn't.
BUT thinking about it... if you were a regular visitor, the most beneficial (to the zoo, using our example) would be to buy the season ticket (which would be classed as a sale and therefore be taxable etc), but then make donations during visits 4 onwards, which would not be.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I tend to get a drink and something to eat as a way of giving a little more to the zoo. But this has only been more recently due to being in a better financial position.
 
taun said:
Interesting, I tend to get a drink and something to eat as a way of giving a little more to the zoo. But this has only been more recently due to being in a better financial position.
Click to expand...
littleRedPanda said:
Thanks Andrew. I don't know why, but I thought maybe the tax was lower on the season ticket/memberships, giving the zoo a bigger portion of the fee.
Click to expand...
Anything you spend on goods or services (including entry) will be taxed as a 'sale' at whatever rate fits. A charity might be able to get back gift-aid on some of it, but this is not automatic. A donation (ie a gift with no 'benefit') is just that, a gift - and is tax free.
 
Andrew Swales said:
Anything you spend on goods or services (including entry) will be taxed as a 'sale' at whatever rate fits. A charity might be able to get back gift-aid on some of it, but this is not automatic. A donation (ie a gift with no 'benefit') is just that, a gift - and is tax free.
Click to expand...

I understand that, just didn't think of gifting a donation instead of buying something there to give a little boost.
 
Andrew Swales said:
Its great what the BBC can do for its selected 'targets'.
BUT - how are the other 400 zoos doing? Have any of them received any more than us?
Chester should be fine for another month or two now, so maybe that will give the Government the excuse it needs to do nothing, and then the rest of us will suffer from Chester's success...
Oh dear - I must go and lie down, I can feel another conspiracy theory coming on...
Click to expand...

If it's any consolation we have donated to Chester.

And Hamerton.
 
Chester total is now over 2.3 million plus £400,000 in gift Aid.

The supermarket Iceland have also adopted all the penguins.
 
Zoo minister says Government will support Chester Zoo

Dr Kieran Mullan MP said “This morning I wanted to make sure Zac knew the strength of feeling amongst my constituents and across Cheshire and the pride people have in Chester Zoo and how important it is we make sure the government gets behind them.

“We have been able to secure a commitment from Zac that the government will do whatever it takes to support Chester Zoo through the pandemic.

"We can be confident about the future of this fantastic place that so many of us have great memories of visiting."

The quotes from the zoo in the same article are a bit more downbeat.
 
The zoo has confirmed that it has opened a voluntary redundancy scheme for staff:

Zoo on 'knife edge' as they open voluntary release scheme for staff

Whilst obviously its always sad when people lose their jobs, I think this seems like a sensible plan. I've already seen a few people moaning about it on social media though, stating that their donations should have prevented this and that the zoo should just ask people to donate more money when they run out!
 
SMR said:
FYI, they offered redundancy to staff in a letter dated 4th June (last Thursday).
Click to expand...
£2.5m on CrowdFunder - a promise from the Government to save them (maybe even at the expense of other Zoos) - and then they announce 300 job losses...mmmm???
 
Andrew Swales said:
£2.5m on CrowdFunder - a promise from the Government to save them (maybe even at the expense of other Zoos) - and then they announce 300 job losses...mmmm???
Click to expand...

Where did you see the 300 number? All the news reports I've seen only mention a voluntary scheme which seems completely sensible at this time.
 
Zia said:
Where did you see the 300 number? All the news reports I've seen only mention a voluntary scheme which seems completely sensible at this time.
Click to expand...
I personally didn't, but we were asked the question (to quote on these three 'steps' listed) - by local media today.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top