Gift Aid
This page explains what Gift Aid is, how it helps us and how to make sure that we can benefit from it.
Download a Gift Aid declaration form
Why make your donation with Gift Aid
If you make your donation using Gift Aid, the government gives us additional money. It doesn’t cost you a penny.
What Gift Aid is
Gift Aid is a scheme run by the United Kingdom government. If you are a tax payer and you donate money to us in the right way, the government will give us the tax that you had already paid on the amount of the donation. This means we get an extra 25p for every £1 you donate to us.
It costs you nothing. In fact if you pay tax at the higher rate you can claim a rebate in your annual tax return.
How to allow us to claim Gift Aid
Just fill in a simple Gift Aid declaration and send it to us with your donation. If you donate through Justgiving they will organise the Gift Aid for you. Please bear in mind that we have to stick to some very strict rules to claim Gift Aid.
We can only claim on your donations if you are a UK tax-payer and if you are donating in your own right. This means we cannot claim Gift Aid on donations made by companies. There are plenty of tax-efficient ways in which companies can help us and your own accountant will be able to advise on these.
We can only claim on your donations if you paid enough income tax or capital gains tax in the past year to cover the amount we claim.
We can only claim on money that you have personally paid tax on. This means we cannot claim Gift Aid if you collect money from other people and then pass it on to us (unless everyone you collect from signs a Gift Aid declaration and clearly indicates the value of their individual contribution).
We can only claim Gift Aid on donations you make and don’t receive a benefit from. This means that we cannot claim if you pay for tickets to see a show, even if the show is to raise money for Severn Hospice, or if you buy things like Christmas cards from us.
We cannot claim Gift Aid on donations left to us in someone’s will.
Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs provides more information about the Gift Aid rules.
How we can help
We really value every donation and we would like to claim Gift Aid where we can.
If you are being sponsored, ask your sponsors to complete their own gift aid declarations. Or even better set up a Justgiving page where Gift Aid is automatically claimed through the website.
If you are asking for donations instead of gifts or flowers on a special occasion, we can send you a set of pre-printed envelopes and a collection box. Using these will make sure we can claim the maximum Gift Aid on top of the donations themselves.
We can also claim Gift Aid on items that you donate to our shops. Ask us about this when you call in with your goods. We will give you a simple form to complete and explain how the system works.
If you have any questions about Gift Aid and Seven Hospice, please contact appeals@severnhospice.org.uk or call 01743 354 450.
