BYM joins call for Gift Aid relief

Measures suggested to support charities hit by pandemic

Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) has joined a campaign calling for a temporary increase in Gift Aid to help charities struggling with a sizeable drop in fundraising income due to the pandemic.

Backing the Gift Aid Emergency Relief campaign, BYM said that a boost in Gift Aid could mean an additional £450 million to help charities continue their vital work helping many to stay afloat in these challenging times. The proposal is to temporarily change the way Gift Aid is calculated for two full tax years to get much needed funds to charities.

The call comes as research shows that charities have been hit hard by the pandemic at a time when their services are needed more than ever.

A survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and Charity Finance Group in March-May 2020 showed that respondents reported an average expected reduction of twenty-four per cent to their total income for the year. This would mean a £12.4 billion loss of income if the average was applied to the sector as a whole.

Peter Lewis, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, said: ‘The government urgently needs to review and enhance its emergency support for charities.’

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