Ownership

You could argue that the majority of HQ staff are from the SE, but then that’s where HQ is based. (Aside from the big salaries, who will go where the the challenging and lucrative work is. Easier to re locate if the money warrants it)  Working from home, which the Club does seem to have embraced over the past two years, is possibly changing this though. It was mentioned at the AGM that the Club have given up some office space at EG. 

Keeping an eye on the HQ vacancies being advertised gives an indication of how the Club is prioritising things. There’s even one looking for a candidate to improve the website😯🤣 

They are still looking for Site Staff though.

It's interesting how we all view the club and it has taken a long time for it to shake off it's past which was not attractive to "outsiders." There is still room for improvement in attracting a more representative membership. At present I see it as an ageing organisation and not very accommodating to the needs of families.

There are many families who enjoy campsite life but whether club sites attract them is another matter.

Is the club too sedate I wonder or is this what a certain section wants to maintain. If it does the club will have difficulty changing. It will become the Saga Cruise version of caravanning. If so, give me a life jacket now!!

I don't see the Club heading for Saga caravaning.  The last few sites we have stayed on have had a number of young families.  The sites with play areas are popular and the play areas are being used, We are not young but feel the Club sites are for all ages.

One thing a friend told me is that older people are the folk who can afford to buy a caravan. Many caravans cost almost as much as half a small house in the North of the UK. It isn't just the caravan price but the vehicle to tow it with too. 

We go away outside of school holidays because we can and find it easier to visit places during term time. However that is our choice. Often at these times the sites are used by older people but that doesn't mean they are the only people using the sites all year round.

I think it depends on the site.  In my opinion some sites are already Saga caravanning.  If you go to a site near a popular holiday destination near a beach in the summer, then there are quite a few young families.  As Wytchylin says,  caravans can cost the equivalent of half a house in the north plus a decent tow car.  Motorhomes are out of the question for a vast amount of the population unless you're older.

We went to Seacroft last summer and I was surprised at the few families that were there except for in the tent field.  I must admit, we felt like outsiders, as there was a group of vans dotted around the site and they all knew each other and booked from year to year and it was very much us and them.

The other Club call themselves The Friendly Club and I can see why.  As I mentioned in a previous post, the twin set and pearls brigade would rather look away than say "good morning" to you.  I think the fact that all their sites accept tents make a difference as they attract a younger crowd with families. and I'm not sure this Club can address that.

I think the club does attract young families very well indeed already. The thing is though your viewpoint all depends when you use club sites and to the site itself.

If you go in school holidays then mainly all you will see is young families (or grandparents) with children of all ages. When I was working that's all I saw, now I'm using club sites out of term time I get the opposite view. When I was last at Seacroft during the first half of the summer holidays it was almost wall to wall children so much so the pool had a happy hour for the more mature at 9am

As I said before when we use sites midweek to midweek during weekdays I'm usually one of the youngest on site and at weekends I'm one of the oldest.

Also there is the kids for pound and kids are kids till they are 18, the non club sites I've seen is usually 14 or even as low as 12.

I think you'll find it's cravats, not ties old chap. 

I'm being tongue in cheek here but have a look at the questions asked of our non-exec committee, they do reveal something...eg "what events would you have liked to have seen in the past"

The Titanic leaving Southampton

The Last Supper

Luckily the responses also reveal hopes for the future of the club so all is not lost. 

(To be found in "about us" at the foot of this page)

My bad, thanks for the heads up CY👍🏻. I think I may have got it mixed up with the whole ‘old School tie’ entitled privilege thing.

"Many caravans cost almost as much as half a small house in the North of the UK. It isn't just the caravan price but the vehicle to tow it with too"

Blimey, some MHs must would be equal to a whole terrace!!. 

Whilst it may be 'many', its not all, and, maybe, even not most and I would think most ease themselves in with an older, cheaper, van to begin with and then upgrade as finances allow.

We have just moved on from Seacroft and did not see any of the type of member you describe and there were quite a few children the clubhouse was also very popular,