Charitable Giving

All our married life we have had a charity account into which we put a percentage of our income and from which we give to church and charity. We make some regular gifts but are also able to make occasional donations too.

The collections taken in the chapel of our housing complex fund chapel expenses but what is left over is given to charities. Towards the end of each year residents nominate as many charities as they like and then we vote on them by secret ballot and the available monies are shared between the top ten. It is a system that has worked well over many years and a wide range of charities benefit.

The Telegraph newspaper, which I read regularly, has an annual Christmas Charity Appeal which we like to support. Trusted and knowledgeable persons, appointed by the paper, select three charities each year of a varied nature. This year, it was announced today, they will be SSAFA Forces Help, The Microloan Foundation, and Chailey Heritage School for severely disabled children. Nearer to Christmas there will be a phone in day for credit card donations when the telephones are answered by Telegraph staff, particularly the journalists we know from the pages of the paper. The chosen charities will be introduced and explored over the coming weeks through a series of inspirational and educational articles, which we like. Experience proves that the chosen charities tend not only to benefit from the cash donations(last year a total of £825000 was raised) but also from the higher calibre of staff who are recruited as a result of the publicity and business men who offer expertise and services free.

As a result of these methods we enjoy our charity giving and feel that we benefit as well as the recipients.