As a small local charity, YMCA Taunton is committed to providing accessible, affordable, and well-maintained sports facilities for our community. To ensure we can continue doing this we are making a change to how block bookings for our sports facilities are managed.
What’s Changing?
Currently, users can reserve a regular weekly slot and pay on arrival, with no upfront payment or deposit. Unfortunately, this has led to frequent last-minute cancellations and no-shows, which result in lost income and unused facility time.
From 1 October 2025, our new booking procedure will be as follows:
Monthly Invoicing
At the start of each month, users will receive an invoice for 50% of the total monthly booking cost. This payment secures your regular slot. Invoices can be paid online, in person, or by BACS.
Weekly Balance Payment
The remaining balance for the week will be paid on arrival. This can be paid by card or cash at reception.
| Sport/Facility | 4 week month (50%) | 5 week month (50%) | Weekly Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astro pitch | £70 | £105 | £17.50 (plus £5 if floodlights needed) |
| Badminton/Pickleball/Short Tennis – 2 players | £28 | £35 | £7 |
| Badminton/Pickleball/Short Tennis – 2 players | £34 | £42.50 | £8.50 |
| Basketball | £50 | £62.50 | £12.50 |
| Squash – before 5pm | £20 | £25 | £5 |
| Squash – after 5pm | £24 | £30 | £6 |
| Table Tennis – 2 players | £22 | £27.50 | £5.50 |
| Table Tennis – 4 players | £28 | £35 | £7 |
Cancellations
- Cancellations made within 72 hours of play will be credited to the following month.
- Cancellations made less than 72 hours before the booking will not be refunded.
Why are we making this change?
Between August 2024 and August 2025, we lost over £2,300 in revenue from astro pitch bookings alone due to late cancellations and no-shows. In addition, we also experienced regular losses from missed bookings across other facilities such as squash, badminton, and basketball.
As a charity, this has a significant impact on our ability to maintain our facilities and offer affordable access to all.
This new system will:
- Help us reduce lost income.
- Ensure the pitch is used efficiently.
- Allow others to book when a slot becomes available.
- Support the long-term sustainability of our facilities.
What happens next?
- All block booking organisers will receive an email with full details of the new procedure. Please check with reception next time you’re in the centre to ensure we have your correct email address and phone number on file.
- All users – please complete the form at forms.office.com/e/xsCTsDFg29 to confirm if you want to continue with your block booking.
- If you haven’t yet registered for our online booking system, we’ll help get you set up so you can manage your bookings more easily.
- You will receive three invoices for the quarter in advance — for example, invoices for October, November, and December will be sent out in September, giving you plenty of time to organise payments from your players.
- Monthly reminders will be sent to help you stay on track. Payments must be made within one week of the due date. If payment is not received, your booking may be cancelled and offered to others.
We appreciate your support
We understand that changes can be inconvenient, but we hope you’ll understand the need for this update. Your continued support helps us serve the community better and keep our facilities in great condition for everyone.
