BOF Levy at John O'Goats event

[denbydale]

Anyone know why MDOC are having to pay the BOF levy at the John O'Goats event on Jan 4th. In previous years I think they avoided it by not charging an entry fee but asking for donations equivalent to the fee so that all the money could be donated to charity.
It's still entry by donation this year so why the levy?

[lindseyk]

It's been registered as a level D event therefore a levy will be due because only "activities" are exempt from levies nowadays. Presumably a levy was paid on the 2013 event too as the new levy scheme came into force on 1/1/13.

[graeme]

Mysterious.
But do let us know if BOF relent. All proceeds from the Big Weekend and Race the Castles are going to charities* too.

* University of Edinburgh, charity number SC005336, and Scottish Orienteering Association, SC043563

[DM]

Yes , mysterious. I will delve into the MDOC minutes and find when we first started asking for exemption from levy on this charity event. I know we have asked several times and have had no clear answer as their was never time to discuss it. I believe it is registered as level D because registering as an activity is not possible if results will be made available

[SJC]

Register it as a Charitable Activity but publish the results anyway.
That puts the onus on BOF to chase you if they want to insist on taking the levy from the event.

[smf]

Register it as a Charitable Activity but publish the results anyway.
That puts the onus on BOF to chase you if they want to insist on taking the levy from the event.

If that was done it wouldn't be insured under the BOF insurance!

[AndyC]

"Activities"even though Levy exempt are still insured under the BOF policy I believe. The concept of making an event an activity to avoid levy is another question (Moral Maze anyone?)

[King Penguin]

I see no moral issue whatsoever with such a well-established charity event as the John o'Goats. Missed this year's, hoping to make it in Jan 2014.