22 SUPPLEMENT
TO ADVERTISE CALL 020 3906 8488
26 MARCH 2020
Sponsored by
Charity in the time of Corona BY JEREMY FREEMAN
that than through a charity account. A There is a widely known Chinese saying charity account here in England that threatens the target enables you to with what strikes us as a particularly iron- manage your ic punishment: “May you live in interestdonations, ing times.” While there isn’t any evidence maximise that such a curse ever actually existed, it your impact speaks to an age-old caution: be careful and also gain what you wish for. tax benefits. In Only a few weeks ago, who amongst us short, if you are didn’t, at least occasionally, daydream already giving, about a break from the routines, bills, you should be responsibilities and concerns that used to smart giving make up modern life? That time, however, – with a charis consigned to a period we must inevitaity account like bly term BC: Before Corona. Suddenly we SmartGiving. find ourselves conscripted into national Why use Smartservice against an invisible enemy, conGiving? First of all, we fronted with restrictions unknown here give you greater control since World War Two. Everything had over your philanthropy. changed, and everyone is facing chalNot only can you easily see lenges that just last month would have and manage your donations seemed inconceivable. from one place – as opposed to That ‘everyone’ unfortunately also ad hoc contributions here and there includes charities. It is only natural during – but we will also boost their potential an upheaval like this to focus on the as well. We do this by giving you the Gift immediate safety of one’s self and loved Aid you are entitled to up front. So when ones, and complying with government you donate into your account, HMRC will regulations on free movement has to be automatically add an extra 25 per cent our number one priority. But the world (minus a small fee) that you can then outside the homes that we find ourselves redistribute as you see fit. confined to has not gone away. The Secondly, SmartGiving is one of only vulnerable are still vulnerable, the needy a few authorised Payroll Giving agencies still in need. The only difference is that in the UK. This means you can donate the charities who do so much good work straight from your pay before tax. Your to help them are now in crisis. donation is calculated after your NationEarly reports suggest that charities al Insurance contribution, but before could lose at least £4.3 billion over the Income Tax is deducted; this means next 12 weeks without part of your donation government support. comes from money Like everyone else, they that would otherwise are scrambling to come have been taken by to terms with the new HMRC. In other words, Smart Giving normal, whilst desperit costs you less while 0800 358 1191 ately trying to continue then your intended jeremy.freeman@smartgiving.org.uk helping those who need charity receives more. smartgiving.org.uk it more than ever. We’ll even handle all This is why it has the necessary admin, so never been more important for sustained, no additional headaches for you or your efficient giving, to give these amazing employer. organisations a much needed helping Thirdly, we are a traditional fundraishand. And there is no better way of doing ing platform. Remember the ubiquitous
Info box
Suddenly we find ourselves conscripted into national service against an invisible enemy, confronted with restrictions unknown here since World War Two
THEJEWISHWEEKLY.COM
sponsorship forms that were always emailed around the office whenever anyone signed up for a fun run? Well, we also do that, just with lower fees than any of our competitors. Of course, there will probably be fewer charity participation events in the coming months, but I reckon people will start coming up with some pretty ingenious ways to fundraise soon. If someone in France can run a full marathon on their seven-metre balcony, there’s no reason we can’t see similar efforts here – and using SmartGiving would be the most effective way to do it. Last, but not least, there are considerable tax benefits to giving via our platform. Higher rate taxpayers can benefit from an extra 20% tax relief for the 2019/ 2020 tax year – if they top up their accounts by 5 April 2020. To return to my opener: we are living in – to put it mildly – interesting times. Difficult times. Unprecedented times. Our world is very different to the one we left behind in 2019, and yet there is comfort to be found in the familiar. The urge to help others is still there and has never been more vital. Let this virus, that does not distinguish between the rich or poor, remind us once again of our shared humanity and spur us to act on that urge. Amidst the uncertainty, we can ground ourselves in kindness and anchor ourselves with compassion. Whatever you can give, whoever you want to support, contact SmartGiving today. Visit smartgiving.org.uk or contact Jeremy Freeman on jeremy.freeman@smartgiving. org.uk for further information.
