We are a Social Enterprise trying to do good things to help UK charities
Imagine the difference we could all make to charity if everyone donated regular amounts of small change.
If we can encourage everyone to give a little, together we can all make a big difference to all the wonderful charities that exist. We want to see a million pounds a year (100,000,000 pennies) donated through the scheme (and when we get there, we will go for £2m!)
We are motivated by participation in the scheme, not by profits. Each employer pays a small license fees to not only cover the costs of administering the scheme but also to support us in spreading the word of Pennies from Heaven to others. Our employers realise that the scheme can achieve more by running it together than operating it alone. As a Social Enterprise we are committed to reinvesting our profits into our business to enable the scheme to realise its full potential and social purpose.
Who would have thought that watching a Superman movie would generate a ground breaking idea for the charity sector…
The concept of Pennies from Heaven came from watching Superman 3! Richard Pryor, working as a computer programmer, realises that everyone’s paychecks are being round down to the nearest cent, so he begins diverting away those small amounts into his own account and uses it to turn into a world class super baddie! We decided that we could ask people to volunteer their pennies and use them to do good.
Pennies from Heaven is a small charitable company with five goals:
To spread the message
To share the idea of the scheme with all employers, pension providers and charities.
To make payroll changes easy
We campaign payroll companies to change core systems so that payroll costs are free.
To make set up and administration simple
We provide fundraising expertise, payroll guidance, artwork, online sign up and distribute donations to charities.
To connect employers
We cultivate a community of employers to share best practice, tips and tricks.
To recognise success
Our annual award scheme provides employers with an external recognition of success.
Meet the team


Anthony Law
Founder and Chair
Having worked on an assignment for VSO in South Africa after leaving school Anthony embarked on a 30 year career in insurance broking working for the Sedgwick Group in various european countries (20 years) returning to the UK from Denmark at the end of 1990. Roles were largely marketing related & included operational responsibility latterly for the Nordic countries.
“One thing that has always been of interest and remains so was the desire to understand people from wherever they originated in the world and how by working together this could make a real difference for many. I guess in simple terms this is what Pennies from Heaven is trying to achieve! Well the opportunity in 1999 to work together with my co-founder and long standing friend, Angus, arose & we soon realised that whilst this would be a challenge it was indeed possible to set up the scheme”
Anthony lives and works in North Norfolk with his wife Virginia with his two children having escaped the nest live and work in London and Paris.


Kate Frost
CEO
Kate joined Pennies from Heaven in 2005 and became CEO in January 2017
Kate has led Pennies from Heaven through an ambitious growth period, increasing the number of people and organisations participating in the scheme by 50% in three years. Having spent ten years as a marketing professional and strategy director at Barclays Bank, Kate joined Pennies from Heaven to fulfil her passion to make a difference to the charity sector. Kate led the development of Pennies from Heaven across the NHS and to date NHS staff have donated over a £1m via the scheme. Much of these donations have benefited the work of NHS charities themselves.
Kate is a passionate believer that people want to give more to charity and if we can make it accessible and easy to do so then people will want to join in and will feel good about doing so.
“It is a privilege to be part of this wonderful giving scheme and work with such an enthusiastic team. Our mission is to get everyone giving their payslip pennies to charity as we believe that few of us would miss the pennies from our pay. If every employee joined in, we would raise £198m a year, plus gift aid – imagine the difference that would make. Small Change makes Big change – simple.”
When not working Kate likes nothing more that taking part in charity challenges and volunteering. From hiking the Grand Canyon, running the London Marathon, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and cycling across Italy you never know what she is planning next.
You can contact Kate at kate@penniesfromheaven.co.uk


Kate Hoare
Director
Kate is an experienced business communications strategist, Kate has over 15 years’ experience of working with companies to successfully implement and execute stakeholder engagement campaigns to promote, protect and enhance reputation. Kate has an excellent track record in advising the Boards and management teams of many UK and international public and private companies on their capital markets communications activity, including corporate transactions, financial calendar reporting and IPOs.
Kate has worked alongside leading brands to create and implement integrated business-to-business, corporate and consumer campaigns, targeted on achieving commercial success. Her experience has spanned all sectors and ranges from FTSE 100 to AIM listed companies, as well as private businesses.


Shelley Edwards
Head of Communication and Brand


Gemma Webb
Team Administrator
Scheme Administration
How Pennies from Heaven operates
Pennies from Heaven Distribution is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. The company is responsible for collecting the donated funds from an employer who is participating in the Pennies from Heaven Scheme and paying these to the selected charities. The company is externally audited each year providing employers with assurance of our credible donation processing.
To ensure proper governance Pennies from Heaven Distribution Limited is separate from Pennies from Heaven Fundraising Limited. There is no cross ownership between the two companies and the board of directors of each is completely independent of the other with no cross directorships. A legally binding agreement defines the respective duties of each company under the Pennies from Heaven Scheme.
Pennies from Heaven makes it simple for charities to receive donations by distributing funds on the employer’s behalf. Pennies from Heaven distributes the donations to nominated charities in accordance with instructions. This includes providing employers with an audit trail as well as the charities for the reclaim of Gift Aid from HMRC.
The board of Directors, Pennies from Heaven Distribution Ltd


David Atterbury Thomas
Chairman of the Board of Directors
David has been a longstanding trustee and volunteer in the charitable sector. He is Trustee/Treasurer of Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, Chair of Governors at Blackheath High School GDST and Treasurer of one of the City Churches. As a Chartered Accountant his early career was spent with Reed Elsevier and then for many years David was Group Finance Director at Grayling, an international public relations and public affairs group. Now a consultant, he helps charities and businesses with strategy, organisation of financial operations and financial and stakeholder reporting.


Catherine Salzedo
Financial Controller and Distribution Manager
Catherine qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand working in tax before a brief period as a financial journalist. Having taken time off to have a family, she is now a senior teaching fellow in accounting at Lancaster University. In her spare time, she has gained a PgDip in Charity Accounting at the CASS Centre for Charity Effectiveness, and is learning to row.


Rebecca Haines
Director
Rebecca has over 20 years experience in the Banking industry working for some of the UK’s largest retail banks. Her career has focused on the delivery and governance of change ensuring policies and compliance are adhered too and change is delivered efficiently. In her early career Rebecca worked as a Management Consultant for PwC and Cap Gemini followed by lengthy employments at Barclays Bank and Lloyds Banking Group. Now working for the AA Rebecca continues to lead change delivery. Alongside her roles at the AA, Pennies from Heaven and being a Mum to 2 young boys, Rebecca is also on the executive team for her local Scouting Group supporting the Scouting leaders and ensuring continued successful running of the local team.


Tony Smith
Director
Tony Smith has been a Motor Underwriter all his career initially in the Lloyd’s market and latterly in the company market. Tony has now retired to Norfolk where he is currently a member of the Norfolk Bench. Tony was previously chairman of Peaceful Place, based in Essex a charity for people with early onset dementia.


Isabel Wootton
Director
Isabel has had a wide ranging career, having started in banking she then spent over 15 years in central Government working across the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office. She is currently working at Surrey County Council delivering their Data Strategy. Isabel is committed to a wide range of local charities and values the opportunity to support Pennies from Heaven deliver its mission of getting payroll pennies to charities.
For further information on Pennies from Heaven Distribution Limited, please contact:
David Atterbury-Thomas
Pennies from Heaven Distribution Ltd
The Studio, 2 Boreli Yard, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7NU.
Email: distribution@penniesfromheaven.co.uk
Registered Number: 03931760 (England & Wales)
Registered Office: The Studio, 2 Boreli Yard, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7NU
Auditors: Sumner & Moore. Camberley.