The Payroll Giving Grants programme is offering businesses with less than 500 employees a cash incentive of up to £500 simply for setting up a Payroll Giving scheme before the end of 2006. Aimed at providing sustainable income for local charities, the programme is designed to encourage more employers to offer Payroll Giving to their employees.
Payroll Giving is one of the easiest and most flexible methods of giving to charity, enabling your staff to make charitable donations straight from their gross salary (before tax is deducted). For example, a £10 donation will cost a standard rate taxpayer only £7.80, or just £6 for higher rate taxpayers. What’s more, the Government is matching donations with up to £10 each month for the first six months of each employee’s donations. Julia Cleverdon, Chief Executive of Business in the Community , says: “This programme gives even the smallest organisations with minimal budgets, the chance to play their part in generating a regular, reliable income stream for charities and to make a difference in their local community in this way. It’s quick, cheap and easy to set up and run. So, if you haven’t already established a scheme for your staff, then now is the time to do so.”
"Virgin Money in Norfolk have offered a payroll giving scheme to employees for several years and we have recently introduced a 'Pennies from Heaven' scheme which has proved particularly popular with over 70% of our staff now contributing every month. This scheme links directly to the Virgin charity, 'Virgin Unite', and is just part of a group wide initiative designed to get staff involved in the charity, either by donating money or by volunteering to help out Unite's charity partners. We've found that our staff appreciate having the opportunity to give something back." said Karin Pink, Internal Communications Manager at Virgin Money.
The Payroll Giving Grants programme is a Home Office funded initiative, administered and promoted by the Institute of Fundraising and Business in the Community. The cash incentive will only be available to the end of December 2006.For further information, free support materials and guidance, please visit: www.payrollgivinggrants.org.uk or call 0845 602 6786 quoting BITC East
