Human beings have an inbuilt survival instinct which means we will normally do our best to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm or danger. Although this instinct could lead to purely selfish behaviour, human societies have long valued charitable giving to support others who need help.
In the UK the term charity has become a name given to a not-for-profit organisation that has been established with one or more ‘charitable’ objectives. Until 2006 these objectives were limited to:
- the relief of poverty
- the advancement of education
- the advancement of religion
or other purposes which were considered beneficial to the community.
The Scottish Government is responsible for the legal framework surrounding charities in Scotland and recognises the important role that charities play. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting charitable activity and reassuring the public that their money is being well used. The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 sets out the framework within which charities and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) must operate.
Giving to charity has long been considered a good thing by the world’s major religions, and similarly many people without religious affiliation will also wish to support charitable organisations.
Although money or equivalent can be given at any time to any cause that you consider to be worthy of your donation, for individuals who pay tax, organising your giving to charity can also make good financial sense because tax relief can be provided for money that is donated to a charitable purpose. This tax relief means that you can increase the amount you give to the charity of your choice at no additional cost to yourself and which can be further increased if you are a higher rate tax payer. The easiest of these methods has become known as Gift Aid.
Making a Gift Aid donation is easy. You will need to complete a Gift Aid declaration form. One form can cover every gift made to the same charity for whatever period you choose. The form can cover gifts you have already made and/or any gifts you may make in the future.
Other options to consider when thinking of giving to charity include:
- Whether to give a one-off payment or a regular amount
- Giving direct via payroll or pension deduction
- Leaving gifts in your will
For more information about charitable giving follow the links to the organisations below.
workplacewellbeing.com assumes no responsibility for the content of linked websites.
Useful Websites
www.scotland.gov.Topics/People
www.gov.uk/different-ways-to-donate
www.hmrc.gov/giving/gift-aid.htm
