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Hugs is changing lives with the help of our supporters and their kind donations. With you by our side we can continue to rehabilitate horses, ponies and donkeys so they become healthy and trusting and are able to give their unconditional love to a new home. We can also continue to provide therapeutic and supportive interventions for children and young people experiencing mental ill health and a range of additional needs and provide well-being visits to the elderly to help decrease loneliness and social isolation and increase happiness and hope. In spring 2021, we also started reaching out to help military personnel and veterans. There are so many different areas we are helping and so many positive stories to tell when all seemed lost. If you would like to become part of making these positive changes, please donate what you can. Thank you for your kindness and for believing Hugs.
Could you kindly give a monthly donation and become a Hugs Hero? Being a Hugs Hero doesn’t just mean kindly donating a monthly gift. It means you are part of the team, helping spread kindness and raising awareness of the critical work Hugs is doing with animals and humans to save lives and turn them around for the better. There is no minimum or maximum amount, just donate whatever you can afford (using the button below) and you will automatically be signed up to Hugs Heroes. In return you will receive a welcome letter, certificate, a fabulous Hugs Heroes rosette, a Hugs pen, a window sticker, our monthly newsletter via email and invitations to our open days to meet the team and rescues that you are helping.
Thank you for your kindness and interest in donating to help support our mission.
Just look at the difference your donation makes……..
April’s Story
Annie’s Story
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Leave a Legacy
Leaving a legacy to a cause you believe in really is passing on something incredible and helps your memory live on. You can do this through your Will.
Having a Will means you make the decisions on where your money and assets go giving you and your family security and piece of mind.
Did you know – over half the UK population of adults (including parents) DO NOT have a Will and many have one that is out of date!
Leaving a legacy will enable Hugs to change the lives of both animals and people. Our animal rescues work alongside our service users through a unique intervention that creates a circular relationship between the environment, animals and people we support. Our Hugs community is inclusive, safe, nurturing and kind for both animals and people. This is a huge part of helping rehabilitate our rescues ready to find their new home and educating young people about animal welfare. Your legacy will support this vital work to continue and ensure Hugs is here for our community for years to come.
Gift Aid Frequently asked questions
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a government scheme which is open to all charity supporters who pay UK Income and Capital Gains tax. For every pound you earn you pay 25p (or 20% basic rate of tax). By signing up to Gift Aid, every time you donate your charity can reclaim the tax you have paid based on the value of the donation you have made. So, a £10 donation from you enables charities to reclaim £2.50. Charities are very dependent on Gift Aid to support their income.
Am I eligible to sign up for Gift Aid?
You’re eligible if you’re a UK taxpayer living anywhere in the world. However, you must have paid enough tax to cover the amount that all the charities you support would claim in Gift Aid on your donations in a tax year (6 April – 5 April the following year). Even if you’re not employed, you’re still eligible for Gift Aid if you pay tax on any of the following:
• a personal or occupational pension.
• bank or building society savings accounts.
• rental income.
• stocks and shares.
• UK and overseas investment dividends.
Other taxes such as VAT and council tax do not apply. As the taxpayer, you’re responsible for checking your eligibility for Gift Aid as any tax shortfall is the responsibility of the taxpayer, so please speak to your accountant or HMRC if you are unclear on how much tax you have paid.
How do I know if I have paid enough tax?
In one financial year you must have paid at least 25p in income or capital gains tax for every £1 you donate to charity. Every income taxpayer has a tax-exempt threshold before they start paying tax. So please ensure you are paying enough tax to Gift Aid your donations. If you make total donations of £100 to all your charities in one tax year 6 April – 5 April, you will need to have paid at least £25 in tax in that tax year. If you need help you can either contact HMRC on 0300 200 3319, make sure you have your National Insurance number or Self-Assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference, or you can speak to an accountant.
What if I don’t pay enough tax?
Unfortunately, HMRC can only pay Gift Aid to charities if you, as the donor, have paid enough income or capital gains tax to cover the Gift Aid on ALL your donations to your favourite charities, therefore the scheme is only opened to UK taxpayers who have paid enough tax.
What donations are NOT eligible for Gift Aid?
Any donation:
• from a non-UK taxpayer.
• made on behalf of someone else or a group of people.
• made on behalf of a company.
• to a family member participating in an event where the charity is contributing to their costs as this breaks the HMRC benefits rules.
• made in return for goods, rights or services.
What is a Gift Aid Declaration form?
What do you mean by “my own money”?
Gift Aid can be claimed on both individual donations and sponsorship donations providing you are donating to a charity. Certain donations are not eligible for Gift Aid. If your donations fall into any of the following categories, do let us know and we will make sure Gift Aid is not claimed:
• You have been charged an entry fee e.g., a ticket for a performance or a sports event.
• You have bought something from our shop.
• You have entered one of our competitions e.g., a raffle or sweepstake.
• Your donation is on behalf of someone else or a group.
How do I sign up for Gift Aid?
Simply tick the box on the online donation form, complete a separate Gift Aid Declaration form or call our Fundraising team on 07948 404988.
How do I cancel Gift Aid?
What if I am moving overseas?
Do I need to notify you of my change of address?
Yes please. We know you will have so much to do when moving house, so if you add us to your “notifications” list you can let us know your new address once you have moved.
What if I have opted out of receiving correspondence from you?
If you have asked us not to contact you, we will continue to honour this. However, Gift Aid is a little different, the scheme is owned by the Government, and therefore we have the responsibility to make sure the donor is always eligible to be in the scheme. So, every so often we may need to contact you to make sure we have your correct contact details, and you are still eligible to Gift Aid. Please don’t worry, we will only do this when necessary.
Will I have to make a Gift Aid declaration again?
No, once you sign up to Gift Aid your declaration will be ongoing and will cover any future donations you may make. Please notify us if your circumstances change and you no longer pay enough tax to cover your donations. We can also claim Gift Aid on any donations you may have made to us in the previous four years if you were paying tax in that time, just tick and date the Gift Aid Declaration.
What if I donate to several charities and want to Gift Aid to all of them?
You can do this by signing a declaration for each charity. As long as each tax year you will have paid at least the equivalent amount of tax that all the charities combined will be claiming, Gift Aid can be applied. It’s your responsibility to repay any difference.
How do I know if I pay UK income or capital gains tax?
• income tax is deducted from your salary before you receive it.
• you pay tax after submitting a self-assessment form each year.
• you have a taxable pension plan, savings (e.g., with a building society) or investment income.
• you have paid capital gains tax (e.g., on the sale of a property or share).
If you’re unsure of your eligibility for Gift Aid, please contact HMRC.
What should I do if my tax status changes, or I need/want to cancel my declaration?
Please inform us:
• by phone: 07948 404988 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm)
• by email: laura@hugsfoundation.org.uk
• or write to:
Fundraising Team
The Hugs Foundation
Higher Whitley Farm
Helland Road
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL31 2NT
How would Gift Aid affect my tax?
Signing up to Gift Aid doesn’t affect the tax you pay. We make the claim to HMRC on the tax you have already paid on your donations.
What if I am a higher rate tax payer?
Example:
You donate £100 to charity – the charity claim Gift Aid to make your donation £125. You pay 40% tax so you can personally claim back £25.00 (£125 x 20%).
If you don’t have to send a tax return, contact HMRC and ask for a P810 form. You’ll need to submit it by 31 January after the end of the previous tax year.
What if I don't pay UK tax?
Unfortunately, the scheme is only open to UK taxpayers, so you’re not eligible for Gift Aid. It’s still worth letting us know so that we don’t ask you for this information again.
I don’t pay tax, but my husband/wife does. Can I Gift Aid through them?
If you’re able to donate using a joint bank account and your spouse is willing to sign a Gift Aid Declaration, your donations would be eligible for Gift Aid. Please contact us so that we can make a note of this information.
Who will be able to access my Gift Aid information?
Only HMRC and The Hugs Foundation. We do not share your information with anyone else, not even other family members, without your permission.
Can Gift Aid be applied to event sponsorship?
Sponsorship Gift Aid varies from event to event and the person you are sponsoring is responsible for establishing if donations made by people who are directly connected to the participant will qualify for Gift Aid. Each sponsor must provide their full name, home address and postcode to enable The Hugs Foundation to reclaim the tax.
We cannot accept joint sponsored donations. So, if you usually donate as a couple and are both taxpayers, please make sure you enter your own name and address details on separate lines.
To obtain an official Hugs Foundation event sponsorship form, please contact a member of our fundraising team:
• by phone: 07948 404988 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm)
• by email: laura@hugsfoundation.org.uk
• or write to:
Fundraising Team
The Hugs Foundation
Higher Whitley Farm
Helland Road
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL31 2NT