Prices at YMCA’s Harringay Club have doubled for some children’s play sessions, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A parent has expressed anger and concern over prices for classes at a youth club in Hornsey doubling. 

Parent Jay Bunyan has objected to the increase in class fees at the YMCA Harringay Club in Tottenham Lane.

The club provides largely children’s activities including gymnastics and dance classes, soft play sessions, and yoga for new parents.

At the start of this year a one-and-a-half or two-hour play session for one to five-year-olds would have cost £7 per child and £11 for two siblings, but from November prices rose to £14 and £23 respectively. 

These prices, Jay explained, were the club’s non-membership rate, but added membership, which would reduce the price, had also gone up in line with the general hike in fees.

Jay said: “The club used to be one of the few affordable facilities within the area […] it was such a helpful place for parents, especially new parents. 

“There’s a shortage of places for families on low income and even average income to go and spend time with their children.” 

According to Jay, the club signed a new lease agreement with the council over the summer, after discussions to potentially close the centre and use the land, which was council owned, for social housing. 

However, due to public opposition, the closure plan was scrapped and a new lease signed, although “heavily discounted”. 

Jay said: “Lots of people wrote in and attended meetings and the council did respond to that.”

Following the agreement problems began to occur as YMCA “really hiked the prices” and Jay didn’t believe the hike in class fees was justified by the additional cost in rent.

Jay said: “They’re [classes] higher than market rates now.”

She explained there is a discounted rate for low-income families but people who didn’t qualify for benefits, of which there are “many” as the threshold to qualify is “hard to meet”, felt the increases. 

She also maintained even the discounted rates were “very high”. 

A 30-minute ballet class is £11.40 at the discounted rate and £19 for non-discounted, without membership, and around £14-15, with membership. 

“All the facilities they provide you’re looking at that sort of cost,” Jay said.

She added:v“What will happen is people will be unable to afford to attend and then the centre will in effect close because everyone has gone elsewhere.”

In response, a director at YMCA London City and North, Chris East, said the fee increases were “uncomfortable” for the club as well. 

He explained the only income the organisation received to cover costs was  the fees the parents paid for the services and indicated the new annual rent bill was largely responsible for changes.

Chris said: “We continue to offer a low-income families discount of 40% alongside our 20% discount to members and siblings. For members our classes cost around £15.20 and around £11.40 for low-income families.

“We remain fully committed to the needs of young people in Harringay, but as a charity we are only able to respond ourselves if we have the funding to provide these services.

“Whilst we have two applications under consideration, other funding streams are not currently open to us.

“We will take your views into account as we continue to monitor this situation.”

Haringey Council was approached for comment.

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