Q. When the children use stamp hinges they seem to stick to everything but the stamp. Any tips?

A. That's stamp hinges for you!

Q. How can I best help the children when they start to use stamp hinges?

A. The main problem here is getting the hinge too wet and the best thing is to advise the children to use the tip of their tongue and very lightly. If the hinge is too wet it won't stick. They also need to understand how a hinge is used - the shiny side is going to be the sticky side and the short side goes on the stamp (s for short and s for stamp) while the long side fixes the stamp to the page. One of my young collectors invented his own method which is popular with
beginners - gently lick the long shiny side and put it on the page where you want the stamp to go. Then damp your finger and touch the short side with it. Then you put the stamp on top of the short side and gently press it down. I let them try both ways and we have a vote as to which is the easier way - the latter way always wins the vote. I know that licking your finger isn't terribly hygienic (but they should be all washing their hands before they touch their stamps anyway). Some organisers encourage licking a finger rather than the hinge as it means thatthe hinge doesn't get too wet.

Q. Do I have to be a stamp collector myself to run a school stamp club?

A. No, not necessarily. It probably helps with the technicalities of stamp collecting and with obtaining material, but there many non-stamp collectors running clubs. Many club organisers collected for a while as a child and some of them have that spark of interest revived when they start a stamp club. I would think that all organisers’ have an interest in stamps to start a club in the first place, though for many teachers what appeals is the educational potential that stamps present. There is a glossary of stamp collecting terms available from Stamp Active to help the novice, and I am sure that your local philatelic society would only be too happy to advise you.

 Q. When we started our club we could get free introductory packs and other items from the British Philatelic Trust, but that seems to have stopped. Where can we get resources from now, either free ones or ones at affordable prices?

A. As you say this offer has now stopped but there still items available for sale at reasonable prices from the Trust. For a price list write to: Susan Ellis, British Philatelic Trust, 107 Charterhouse Street, London EC1 M 6PT.

Q. How can I fund my club?

A. This depends on the amount you need to raise and whether you receive free material via your local philatelic society, or have a free meeting room. If the club meets at school, the PTA will often give a donation or the school may have a fund for extra-curricular activities. Many clubs charge members 20p per meeting; additionally they hold tombolas, lucky dips, raise funds at school fairs etc. The NYSC leaflet entitled 'How to Start Your Stamp Club' has other tips on funding to help you.

Q. How can I get stamps for a stamp club that I have just started?

A. If you are looking for free material a lot of stamp collectors have spare stamps and a lot of people have childhood stamp collections that they are happy to donate. You could send out a plea for stamps in a school's newsletter and ask people to collect the stamps from their mail. If youk now people who work somewhere where there is a lot of mail you could askthem to keep the stamps for you - though it has to be said that stamps arebeing used less and less these days. You could also put up a notice in yourlocal post office asking for stamps for the stamp club - a lot of stampcollectors go in there.For quite a small payment you could buy bags of kiloware (usually British on paper) from some Charity Shops or local Stamp Fairs. Your local Philatelic Society will be able to tell you when and where Fairs are being held. They may also be able to supply you with some stamps. Their contact address should be in your local library.