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Helping thousands through your salary
14 June 2010The Meningitis Trust – the UK’s only charity to offer a range of free professional services and community based support for people affected by the disease is asking for those who donate to charity to consider them in their salary.
The Trust is a lifeline to around 20,000 people each year; all have had an experience of the life changing disease meningitis. The Trust provides free professional support to anyone which includes counselling, art therapy for children, financial grants, one-to-one contacts and a 24-hour nurse-staffed helpline 0800 028 18 28 across the UK.
As a charity which solely relies on the generosity of the British public, funds and support are always needed. Payroll giving (donating through your salary) is an easy and tax efficient way to make regular donations to the Meningitis Trust.
Doug Davidson contracted bacterial meningitis twice; the first was when he was six years old and again when he was 22. The first time he fractured his spine after falling off a slide in a playground. Doug remained in hospital for four years and was able to start primary school when his was 10 years old.
Doug says; “The second time I contracted the disease was during a five-a-side football match, I had a pounding headache and was found asleep in a cafeteria. I was then rushed to hospital where I had a lumbar puncture which revealed I had meningitis a second time”.
After having six months off work recovering, Doug permanently lost his sense of smell and taste.
Doug continues; “I am happy to say that I have been relatively healthy since then and I started to support the Trust externally in fundraising events and I took the opportunity to continue supporting them when I found out that I could support them straight from my salary”.
Jane Cima, Individual Giving Fundraiser at the Meningitis Trust, says; “Donations are tax free and it actually costs you less to give the Trust more. The money comes out of your salary before it is taxed, so HM Revenue & Customs (previously known as the Inland Revenue) gives us the tax instead of keeping it. We are so grateful to any contribution and it helps the Trust to continue supporting people just like Doug for as long as they need it.”
To start donating to the Meningitis Trust today please visit http://www.meningitis-trust.org/donation/Donating-pension-&-payroll.html or to speak to somebody please call 01453 768000.
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