Generous shop customers have been thanked for their support after helping East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) close in on £1million raised from Gift Aid.
The government scheme allows charities to reclaim the tax already paid on donations from UK taxpayers.
For every £1 donated, an extra 25p can be claimed, and EACH’s total for the last 12 months was a whopping £883,673.
It’s conversion rate – the percentage of donated goods Gift Aided in that time – was 48%, putting EACH third in the national rankings, ahead of the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Sue Ryder, Mind and The British Red Cross.
Those figures were taken from the most recent Charity Survey findings.
“First and foremost, we’d like to say thank you to everyone who Gift Aids at one of our shops,” said Ian Nicolson, EACH’s Director of Retail.
“Customers have helped raise £883,673 in the last year alone, and that incredible figure will shortly top £900,000 as we close in on £1million.
“It’s an astonishing, unique achievement, putting us among the national leaders in our field, and something to highlight and celebrate.
“It reinforces how we squeeze absolutely everything we can from people’s donations, which is important and resonates with so many of our supporters.
“We’re also incredibly proud of our 48% conversion rate, given the national average is 38%.
“In May, June and July we topped the holy grail of 50% – a milestone we’ve been aiming for over the last few years – and we’re hopeful that figure keeps increasing.”
Gift Aid increases the value of the donation at no extra cost to the donor.
To participate, donors first need to make a Gift Aid declaration.
“It only takes a couple of minutes, to confirm they’re a UK taxpayer and wish for our charity to reclaim the tax,” added Ian.
“The more people that sign up and support us the better.
“As these findings highlight, Gift Aid raises a significant amount of money that helps us continue our vital work caring for children and supporting families across the region.”
EACH has three hospices – The Nook, in Framingham Earl, near Norwich, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and at Milton, near Cambridge.
This year alone, the charity needs to raise £8 million from donations and fundraising activities and £9.8 million in retail income, with only 15% of its income coming from the government, county councils and the NHS.
To find out where your nearest shop is, head here.
