Notification of increase in Subscription Rates

Following the consultation with members, the Executive Committee (EC) met on Saturday 19 October and decided that the time has finally come for subscription rates to increase.

As previously explained the continued reduction in our payments from Ancestry makes it necessary for the Association to move to a position where its regular costs are met from subscription income alone. Future Ancestry payments will be allocated to maintaining a long-term investment and to fund non-core work of the Association.

The EC fully recognises that for some members this increase is extremely unwelcome, although the vast majority of members who responded to the consultation were very supportive of the need for an increase.

It has previously been widely publicised that annual subscription rates have not risen since 2016 as a result of the entirely unforeseen benefit from Ancestry payments, a situation which is now starting to decline. Had subscription rates risen with inflation the £29pa subscription would now be in excess of the new ordinary rate of £40. The increase will come into effect on 1 February 2025 and all classes of membership will attract a proportionate increase. 

Despite this increase WFA subscription rates are below those for comparable organisations against which the EC benchmarked this increase and in every case the benefits to WFA members are either equal to, or in the majority of cases far greater than the comparable organisations.

The EC would draw members attention to the fact that even the new rate is less than £0.77/week.

In addition to increasing subscription rates the EC is in the process of reviewing all its costs without limiting members’ benefits. The EC would therefore encourage members to help keep our costs down by minimising administrative costs by opting for payment by direct debit or similar arrangements and ensuring where appropriate your subscription is Gift Aided. The Association has also benefitted from a number of legacy donations and the EC invite those in a position to do so, to remember the WFA in their Wills when appropriate to do so.

We should remember however that the WFA is financially robust and the EC will always take whatever steps necessary to protect the future of our Association.

Thank you

Tony Bolton, on behalf of the Trustees of The Western Front Association