What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a Government scheme that allows charities, like us, and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs), to claim back tax on donations made by UK taxpayers.
For those eligible, every pound given to Friends of the Lake District, whether through an appeal donation or membership fee, we get an extra 25 pence from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), at no extra cost to you.
How it helps Friends of the Lake District?
Gift Aid makes your support go even further, helping us protect and care for the Cumbrian and Lake District landscape. For example, your £10 donation becomes £12.50 – you give £10, and the Government adds £2.50. These additional funds help us continue vital conservation work and strengthen our campaigning efforts.
Eligibility
To allow us to claim Gift Aid, donors must complete a Gift Aid declaration form confirming they are a UK taxpayer and provide their full name and address. This can be done online, written, or verbal – you will find Gift Aid forms on our website (below) and on our appeal donation forms.
For eligible donations, Gift Aid can be claimed on one-off or regular donations, or membership fees, via payment methods of cash, card, direct debit, standing order, postal order or bank transfer.
Donations must be made from your own money, and you must have paid enough tax in that financial year to cover all Gift Aid being claimed on your donations. If not, you are responsible for paying any shortfall.
A Gift Aid declaration covers any donations made now, in the future or have been made in the last four years to Friends of the Lake District. For those eligible, who haven’t already signed a Gift Aid declaration, we’d be grateful if you would consider it and make your support go even further.
Complete a Gift Aid Declaration
If you haven’t already completed a Gift Aid Declaration form, you can do so by clicking the link below.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about Gift Aid, please contact our Admin Team, on 01539 720788 or info@fld.org.uk
Frequently asked questions
To qualify for Gift Aid you need to:
- be a UK taxpayer
- have paid enough Income or Capital Gains Tax in the tax year to cover the Gift Aid claimed
- sign a Gift Aid declaration for the charity
If you’re unsure about your eligibility, you can find helpful guidance at: www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid
We can claim Gift Aid on donations and membership fees, but not every donation is eligible for Gift Aid. We cannot claim Gift Aid on some types of donations and payments, including (but not limited to):
- Donations from companies
- Donations made on behalf of someone else
- Donations from sales of products, for example from a fundraising cake sale
- Shop purchases
- Event ticket purchases
- Gift Memberships or Corporate Memberships
- Donations processed through tax efficient payment schemes, including payroll giving or Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), as tax relief has already been claimed
If you have an active Gift Aid declaration, please contact us if:
- You want to cancel this declaration
- You change your name or home address
- You no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains
Should you have any queries, please contact our Admin Team: info@fld.org.uk / 01539 720788
Yes! All donations over £1 qualify for Gift Aid.
