Thursday 9th October is Tick the Box day, where charities including the WEA encourage supporters to sign up to the Gift Aid Scheme.
By saying yes to Gift Aid, your donation goes up to 25% further, at no extra cost to you. That extra boost helps us support more learners. For example, with travel expenses to workshops and important events. We believe everyone deserves the chance to participate, connect and benefit from lifelong learning. But for some learners travel costs can be a barrier to those already facing hardship.
As government spending in adult education reduces, maximising your membership donations enables us to do so much more. Your generosity fuels more than just our mission, it fuels a movement. Let’s make sure no one is left behind because of a train fare or bus ticket. With your help, we can open doors, bridge distances and bring people together.
If you’re a UK Taxpayer, ticking the Gift Aid box on our membership renewal form allows us to claim an extra 25p for every £1 of your membership fee as well as any additional donations you give.
In practice, this means that if you are a WEA member and a tax payer, by ticking the Gift Aid box WEA will receive £18.75 when you pay your annual £15 membership fee. Even past membership payments and donations (up to four years back) can be claimed if you're eligible.
If you pay higher-rate or additional-rate tax, you can also claim back the difference between the basic rate and the higher rate on your Self Assessment tax return which could reduce your own tax bill.
If you don’t pay for your WEA membership online you might have missed out on ticking the box to apply Gift Aid. The good news is that you can make a Gift Aid declaration anytime. Get in touch with us at [email protected] and we can send you the forms.
Make sure you pay tax in the UK and you have paid enough tax to cover the Gift Aid on your donations. For example, if you are giving donations totalling £100 over a tax year, as a basic rate tax payer you must have paid at least £25 of tax that year to apply Gift Aid.
All donations, big or small, make a difference at WEA and your gift can go even further with Gift Aid. Thank you so much for your support!
