A small way to make a big difference
Today is Gift Aid Awareness Day and we’re highlighting how your donations through Gift Aid can raise additional funds for the hospice – without any extra cost to you. At Rowcroft, every penny counts in providing compassionate care for our community, and at this time when hospices are facing so many financial challenges, it’s even more important for us to maximise the value of your kind donations. Through Gift Aid, you can increase the sum of your donation by 25%, helping Rowcroft to support more patients and their loved ones and making a bigger difference in our community. Here, Rowcroft’s Finance and Commercial Director Jon Hill explains how the Gift Aid system works.
What is Gift Aid?
“Gift Aid is a fantastic government scheme designed to help charities like Rowcroft maximise their donations,” says Jon. “When you, as a UK taxpayer, donate to a charity like Rowcroft, the charity can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. This means your £10 donation becomes £12.50, at no extra cost to you. You have already paid tax on the money you’re donating, and the government allows charities to reclaim this tax. This extra money can make a big difference for us at Rowcroft, enabling us to provide more support and care to our patients.”
Who can use Gift Aid?
“To be eligible for Gift Aid, you need to be a UK taxpayer. Additionally, you need to have paid or will pay enough income tax and/or capital gains tax in the current year to cover the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations. If you pay tax at a higher rate, you can claim the difference between the rate you pay and the basic rate on your donations. However, if you’re living on your pension alone and no longer pay tax, you will, unfortunately, not be eligible for Gift Aid.”
How to sign up for Gift Aid
“Signing up for Gift Aid is simple. If you are donating online, simply tick the Gift Aid box on the online form. If you are donating in person or sending a cheque to the hospice, you just need to fill out a Gift Aid declaration form. It only takes a couple of minutes to fill out the form, and once you have, we’ll take care of the rest for you, claiming the extra funds from HMRC to support those we care for.”
What about donations of goods to our shops?
“When you donate any items such as clothing, homeware, books, electricals, furniture or accessories to Rowcroft shops, you can opt in to a separate Gift Aid scheme. This lets us collect 25% more whenever we sell something that you donated. To help us take advantage of Gift Aid, you can sign up to the Retail Gift Aid scheme when dropping off your donations.”
Boosting care with your help
“By using Gift Aid, you’re helping Rowcroft to provide more care and support to those facing life-limiting illnesses. It’s a simple way to increase the impact of your generosity, helping us to make a bigger difference in our local community.”
Want to make your contribution go further? Find out more about Gift Aid here.
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- BIG ANT’S Big Bake
- Giving new life to old currency
- Celebrate World Baking Day with Rowcroft’s Big Bake!