Below is a set of FAQ’s for Parents/Guardians. If you have any questions that are not answered below then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Have your staff volunteers been checked by the DBS?
YES! It is a requirement by law that anyone working or volunteering in an environment with children, must hold a current Enhanced Level DBS certificate. Every member of Staff at the ICF holds a valid certificate and are re-checked every 3-6 months via the DBS Updater Service.
My child wants to join the ICF. How much does it cost?
The subscription cost for every Cadet at the ICF is £10 per month. Cadets can pay this in cash on the first Parade Evening of the month or, if preferred, parents can set up a Standing Order. We meet throughout the year, only closing our doors for 2 weeks over the Christmas Holidays.
Are there any other costs?
When a Cadet enrols with us, parents will be asked to pay a Refundable Uniform Deposit of £30. This is for the use of uniform that will be issued to the cadet. Upon leaving us in the future and receiving back all issued uniform in a good condition, the Uniform Deposit will be refunded. Though we issue all of the required uniform, we do not issue boots. However, we will advise you on the boots your Cadet will need and where they can be purchased from.
Other costs for planned trips such as camps and days out will incur a small cost. We always give a good amount of notice for these additional trips and parents can pay in one lump sum or monthly if they prefer. We subsidise the cost of any additional trips where possible to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum. To give you an idea, a weekend camp including travel, accommodation, activities and food will cost in the region of £35-£50 per cadet.
My Child has learning difficulties. Can they join?
Of course! We will never turn anyone away due to learning or physical difficulties. Many of our staff are experienced professionals and have many years experience working with children and SEN. If your child has certain difficulties, we will always sit down and work with you to ensure that the environment and training we offer is suitable, and we will always make any required changes we can to accommodate every child. Every child should have the same opportunities as each other and the ICF is no different from any other setting.
Are you a Registered Charity?
Yes we are. We are registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales and our charity number is 1191244. All monies that are raised and/or donated to us are used to provide training and experiences to our cadets. We are run solely by a team of volunteers, so none of our staff are paid any salary.
Do you claim Gift Aid?
Yes. As a tax payer, you can allow us to claim an additional 25% of any donation you make on your behalf. This is a great help to us financially, and allows us to offer more to our cadets. Please contact a member of staff for a Gift Aid form if you wish to make a donation.
Can I help out?
Of course! The ICF is a family, and any parent or guardian that wishes to help out is welcome. You can find out more by looking on our 'As a Volunteer' page on this website. Alternatively you can email us and one of the team will contact you.