Price increase 25/11/2024

Dear Community Sauna Customers,

We are reaching out to let you know that, for the first time since we started three years ago, we will be adjusting our prices for our Hackney and Stratford sites.

This increase is necessary to ensure we can continue not only to offer you the best experience whilst assuring our financial sustainability, but to continue our work serving the community with concessionary programs such as:

Social Prescription, Sauna for Community Sessions, Accessibility Memberships and Concessionary rates.

Maintaining the financial sustainability of our Community Interest Company (CIC)

Since starting in December 2021  we’ve faced significant cost increases across the board. We have experienced a 50% rise in wood costs, seen the Living Wage increase twice, and passed the VAT threshold, incurring  20% VAT on prices—all costs we absorbed ourselves. Additionally, we’ve invested heavily in improving our facilities, expanding our concessions, and continued to offer free community sessions and NHS sessions, which we are deeply committed to providing.

Following the recent government budget, which increased both National Insurance Contributions and the Living Wage, we find it necessary to adjust our prices by 10% for all regular sessions at Hackney and Stratford ( memberships and events will remain the same ). This increase will help us cover these additional costs and allow us to plan for the future, ensuring we can continue to operate as a sustainable, community-focused organisation. As a CIC all revenue is reinvested in our mission to bring affordable and inclusive communal sauna bathing to the UK.

Continuing and expanding our concessionary and supportive sauna offers throughout local communities

Current projects include:

• Social Prescribing: a programme offering free access to our facilities for individuals and groups

  139 individuals were prescribed for a variety of reasons in the past year; 

• Sauna for Community Sessions: are group sessions for individuals who aren’t comfortable attending alone. We provide transport, accessible facilities, and use WhatsApp groups to ease booking/communication barriers

  214 individuals have participated from a range of local charities and organisations;

• Community Group Sessions: discounted events run for and by underrepresented groups within the local community

  Trans Sauna, Mamma Swim, For Brothers That Talk;

• NHS Sessions: free weekday sessions for NHS workers

  1400+ sessions this past year;

• Concession Memberships: 30% discount for benefits recipients, blue light workers and students

  claimed by over 400 people;

• Accessibility Membership: 50% discount and free companion/carer tickets for people with disabilities/accessibility needs;

• Saunas for Volunteers: free saunas for local volunteer groups.

Thank you for your understanding and for being a vital part of Community Sauna. We remain committed to providing a unique, high-quality experience and appreciate your ongoing support.

Warm regards,
The Community Sauna Team