Take the plunge!
You do not have to jump out of a plane (or run a marathon) to help a charity. You can share your skills, donate tax free or declutter. It’s time to...
CHARITIES constantly need our financial help. As a nation we give £10billion a year to them – £190 for every adult in Britain. Despite this generosity, helping charities is not just about money. You can help in other ways.
FULFIL A DREAM
JUMPING out of an aeroplane at 12,000 feet and tumbling for almost a minute before opening a parachute is not something most of us contemplate doing at a weekend. But if the parachute jump is for charity, you might be persuaded.
Other lifetime challenges you might consider thanks to charity include a hike up 19,341ft Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, a marathon or spending the day lying in a bath of baked beans.
The Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) charity relies on fundraising ideas to raise at least £100million a year to treat thou- sands of youngsters. Francesca Vitale, of Great Ormond Street Hospital in Central London, says: ‘It can act as a real motivator if you have a challenge. By signing up to something that others are involved in, there is a real sense of team spirit that helps everyone.’
The GOSH skydive challenge requires you to pay £50 as a registration fee and then commit to raising £350 in sponsorship.
Failure to hit the target means you must stump up your own £185 to pay for the jump.
You must pay a £399 registration fee for the Mount Kilimanjaro challenge in Tanzania. You then need to raise £4,698. The charity uses £2,350 of this money to pay for you to go on the expedition.
Francesca says: ‘We find some of the most popular events include 5km fun runs as everyone can get involved – young and old, able bodied or those using a wheelchair. Inclusive charity events like this offer a real sense of belonging.’
Good causes often have a raft of ideas for raising money and you will also find plenty of inspiration on the internet.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) charity has an A-to-Z list of more than a hundred ideas – from joke-athons to doughnut sales – on its website.
There is also nothing to stop you coming up with your own suggestions and seeing if your chosen charity will provide sponsorship forms and branding. Contact your local newspaper and see if it will publicise your charity effort.
But fundraisers need to be aware that if they use a specialist website to raise money, a slice of valuable donations will be siphoned off.
Charity donation website JustGiving is the most popular but also one of the least generous. It pockets 5 per cent of what you give – after the gift aid tax refund is added.
Another website, Virgin Money Giving, takes a 2 per cent cut of any money handed over – but before any tax rebate from gift aid is added.
Both JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving levy fees on credit or debit card donations. These fees reduce the amount the charity receives – they are not paid by the donor
Website Givey for Charities operates in a different way. It charges donors a 5 per cent fee.
With no further fees the initial amount pledged is what a charity will get – and that includes the 20 per cent gift aid tax rebate.
FIND TIME TO SHARE SKILLS
ONE of the most precious gifts you can give to a charity is time – offering help without even spending a penny.
Providing such support is not only personally rewarding but it also enables you to make new friends and develop skills you can then use in other areas of life.
Charity shops are always looking for staff and are often flexible about the hours you would like to work. Details of many good causes in your area can be found at the Charity Retail Association website.
Other ways people can assist is if they have their own vehicle as transport. They might also have skills that can be used to help others, such as cooking, art or practical skills.
The Dove Cottage Day Hospice in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, relies heavily on support from volunteers for everything from bringing guests in, preparing meals, through to companionship.
Ruth Lees, a nurse at the hospice, says: ‘All our services for guests are free so we need the full support of the community to survive. Sparing just an hour or so a week makes a huge difference.
‘It can be anything – from providing transport to just coming in to share a game of Scrabble or maybe give a manicure. People tell us their volunteer work is often one of the most fulfilling parts of their lives.’
Charities also benefit from skills
that you might have developed at work.
Daniel Godfrey, former chief executive of trade body The Investment Association, is an independent non-executive director of the investment arm of homeless charity Big Issue.
He offers the charity free support in key areas such as how to make money, business management, marketing and innovation. Daniel says: ‘A hand up rather than a handout is what the charity is about. People do not become homeless just because they are broke – it is a result of other issues including mental illness and educational challenges. I love using my experience in business to help others get back on their feet.’
Big Issue sellers must pay half the cover price of each magazine to the charity before selling them on the street. Acting as salesmen helps boost their self-esteem.
HELP A FAVOURITE CAUSE
THERE are more than 200,000 charities in Britain. With such a wide choice it is easy to get bamboozled deciding who most deserves your help.
Ask yourself what you value the most – whether it is supporting the environment, education, the vulnerable or animal welfare.
Maybe a small local charity could benefit more than a large global outfit. Check out websites and if necessary ask a charity questions before parting with your money or offering your time.
The Charities Aid Foundation has information on individual charities that can help you navigate through the maze of options. It enables you to filter choices by using keywords.
It also offers a Charities Aid Foundation cash account for holding and donating money to good causes.
Donations made to charities from the account automatically benefit from the 20 per cent basic rate gift aid tax rebate – but there is a £5 a month administration fee for holding the account.