Q. How can we get Junior members into our aging, diminishing philatelic society?

A. My personal view is that the philatelic society should be going to the children rather than expecting children to come to us. The events at a philatelic society are not always ones that would be interesting to children, and I am not sure that society members would welcome large numbers of children. However you could hold a separate session, say for an hour just before the meeting, or on a Saturday, but be prepared to work hard to build up your membership. Try asking your members to bring along their grandchildren. Once you have a few children there perhaps they will bring in their friends.

A better idea might be to offer to start up a Stamp Club in one or two of your local schools, during the lunchtime or after school. Many schools are looking for people in their local community to come and run clubs. The Stamps in Schools Project can help you to do this (information available on request) and our own Stamp Active Support Programme has useful advice on how to set up and run and stamp club. Maybe you could then invite your school club members (and their parents) to an annual Youth Night at your club devoted to activities for the children - goodie bags; eye catching displays; fun activities with prizes to win. Perhaps some of those children will come to outgrow the school club and ask if they can be a member of yours (yes it does happen).

Q. For the past two years I have been running a stamp club in a local school but the headteacher seems to take no interest at all in what we are doing. She doesn't even look in on us. Is this typical?

A. I wouldn't say that this was typical, usually headteachers want to know what is going on in their school and often make sure that someone on the staff is keeping contact if they are too busy to do it themselves. I sense that you are disappointed by this situation and I am wondering if you could drum up some interest by heightening the profile of the club - presenting certificates/prizes in assembly, putting up a display in the school, getting an item in the local paper, entering the children for the Stamp ActiveCompetition and presenting them with prizes for their efforts. Perhaps you could start a brief newsletter about what you are doing in stamp club this

Q. Some of my members would like to join a stamp club that is not part of school. How can I find out if there is a stamp club in my town and would the children be able to join it?

A. Like you I am finding that some children would like to join an outside stamp club for a variety of reasons. 		Many towns have a stamp club (or philatelic society), indeed in some cases it may be that your own club was started initially by a visit from your local club working with the Stamps inSchools Project. Most clubs/societies, though I have to say not all, welcome young members. However they may not have a youth section that meets separately, and some of their meetings would prove heavy weather for the young collector. If you contact the club secretary, whose contact details are obtainable from us, you can discuss the matter and find out when they are having events suitable for young collectors.

Q. What age group do you think I should target for my club?

A. Personally I like to start with Year 4 (8/9 year olds). Talking to adult collectors that seems to be the age when most people started. Developmentally it seems to be the age when children like to collect and like to learn from their collecting. Their manipulative skills are more developed at this age too. However, children do vary and younger children can enjoy collecting stamps in their own way though you may need to make things easier for them, for instance stamps are easier for them to handle if they are kept on paper. Of course even in secondary school there are children who have difficulties with the intricacies of stamp collecting and it is important to find ways of making things easier for them too. Perhaps some of our readers would care to contribute ideas here.

Q. I run a school stamp club as an outsider and work with a teacher in the school. Sometimes the teacher is unable to be there and I am on my own with the children. What are my responsibilities here?

A. I am assuming that you have gone through the process of having a police check, which everyone left on their own with groups of children like this should have. Many Head-teachers suggest that no-one is left on their own with a group of children - not even teachers, which may seem strange and not always practicable. The situation you describe is not ideal. You can adopt some common sense practices though, like encouraging good behaviour, leaving the door open and making sure that you know where there is a teacher if needed. It might be an idea to let the Head-teacher, or a Deputy, know that you are on your own and she/he may be able to arrange some support for you. You could mention your concerns to the teacher involved, perhaps she could suggest what you do on these occasions. At least it would alert her to the fact that you are unhappy about the situation.

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