Local MP Mary Macleod has praised the Government’s Small Charities Donation Bill currently going through Parliament, as ‘a big opportunity for small charities.
The scheme will allow charities to claim a Gift Aid-like payment on £5,000 of cash donations of £20 or less each year without individual paperwork.
The Bill introduces the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme, which was announced in the 2011 Budget. The purpose of the scheme is to enable charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) to claim a Gift Aid-style payment on small cash donations up to £20 where it is often difficult to obtain a Gift Aid declaration. In general, eligible charities and CASCs will be able to claim top-up payments on up to £5,000 small donations each year.
Mary said: ‘The Government wants to help small charities to claim more back without over burdening them with more paperwork. This scheme will help the many small charities in the constituency and elsewhere get more from the gifts they receive.
‘I know from my involvement at the committee stage of this bill that many charities welcome this move by the Government. The biggest risk is that small, busy charities don’t know about the new legislation and fail to take advantage of it. I urge local charities to look at the legislation and speak to me if they have any questions.
November 23, 2012
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