In handling requests for free or reduced-rate use of rooms at 7
Victoria Terrace the starting point is the simple observation that
waiving charges amounts to making a donation of the amount of those
charges from Area Meeting to the organisation or individual making the
request, For large charities with deep pockets asking for the Hall or
the Meeting Room, e.g. OXFAM or, indeed, Britain Yearly Meeting, we
just say "Apologies, but it costs us money to staff events such as
this, we already keep our rates as low as we can without losing money,
Area Meeting has decided that we cannot afford to provide special
rates for charities such as yourself."

However, not all cases are simple.  In particular, when the request is
  * From a small charity or non-profit group
  * With a connection to our Area Meeting, because
    * We appoint someone to represent us in that group, e.g. Northern
      Friends Peace Board or Old Town Churches [?name?]
    * the requsest comes from one or more members of AM who are
      members of the group as part of the Quaker witness
  * For a small room (Bow Room, Foyer, Library)
  * For a date and time when the Meeting House will be staffed in any
    case.

We can make a qualified offer of rate-free use if the relevant room is
available.  The qualification is that if we subsequently receive a
confirmed request for a conflicting paid booking, we may have to move
the rate-free meeting to another room, or, in the worst case, to a
different day/time to be worked out.