Donate to West Lancashire Freemasons' Charity



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Gift Aid
This is a wonderful way of increasing the value of your donation. Provided that you are a UK taxpayer and the value of your donation does not exceed the amount of tax you paid on your income and capital gains during the year, for every £10 you donate the charity can claim a further £2.82 from the taxman!

Please contact us for the appropriate form. We are able to accept regular payments by standing order which can also benefit from Gift Aid.

Higher rate taxpayers
If you're a higher rate taxpayer, you can claim the difference between the higher rate of tax and the basic rate of tax on the total value to the charity of your donation (the 'gross donation').

You make this claim on your Self Assessment tax return.

If you do not pay tax, you should not use Gift Aid.

Paying tax refunds to the charity
The Government wants to encourage individuals and businesses to give more to charities and so offers a range of tax incentives (income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax) which help you, the charities concerned or both.

If you complete a Self-Assessment return SA Donate even enables you to donate any tax refund directly to your chosen charity.

These tax incentives are only available for UK tax payers making gifts to UK charities. Depending on the type of gift you make you may have to make a claim to receive the tax relief (either on your Self-Assessment return or by writing to your own tax office).

This information is obtained from the HM Revenue & Customs website and is Crown copyright.

Making a donation

By Craft Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters
Cheques should be made payable to "West Lancashire Freemasons' Charity" or "2010 Festival" as appropriate.

Gift Aid envelopes
The most effective method for an individual to make a donation is by completing a Gift Aid Declaration as the Fund is able to recover the Income Tax paid from the HM Revenue & Customs, currently 28.2p for each pound donated, thus significantly increasing the value of the donation.

Gift Aid envelope packs and a full description of the scheme are distributed by the Charity. Lodges should note that once the money is in the envelope it belongs to the charity indicated on it. Payments intended for the 2010 Festival should not therefore be placed in the WLFC envelopes and cheques may only be made payable to "West Lancashire Freemasons' Charity".

Relief Chest
The Grand Charity operates a Relief Chest scheme which can be used to accumulate funds collected by Lodges and Chapters for charitable purposes. The money is held on behalf of the Lodge which retains control over the disposal of the money. The Chest Holder uses the funds in their individual Relief Chest to make donations to any non-Masonic or Masonic charity or to an individual who is in need. The chest cannot be used as a bank account and if donations have not been made within any two year period the chest will be closed. For further information, please contact the Relief Chest Department on 020 7395 9246.

Bequests
Individuals may wish to leave money or assets to the charity in their wills thus helping those in less fortunate circumstances to benefit after their death. This is a very effective means for the charity to increase its funds. A leaflet explaining the procedure is available from the charity. Or a solicitor can arrange this for you.

The following are some examples of the help recently made

Air Ambulance
The North West Air Ambulance Service has played a vital role in saving many people's lives. We have been proud to provide valuable and frequent assistance to them including a trailer used for promoting their charity.

Education
Since 1850 Freemasons in our Province have been providing support to help children benefit from an education which they otherwise would have missed due to their family's personal circumstances.

Nowadays assistance covers a wide range of activities associated with a child's education.

Hospices and Societies
Recently gifts have been made to the Roy Castle Lung Foundation, the South Ribble Pensioners' Association, computers and training for the Derian House Children's Hospice; the Southport Alzheimer Society. Specialist bath track and hoists for Charad; transport for treatment for the St. Helens Cancer Support Group; the Sefton Hackney Drivers Association for disabled children; Liver Cancer Appeal; Marie Curie Cancer Care; Motor Neurone Disease Association; Arthritis Care Southport; St. Joseph's Hospice and many more.

Masonic
Every year we are able to help hundreds of Freemasons and their families and dependants who find themselves in financial distress. The help can be in the form of cash to meet bills, payment towards essential replacements and repairs in the home, financial gifts at Christmas and donations to Masonic residential and nursing care homes.

Scouts, Guides, Sea Cadets
We were delighted to help Lancaster Sea Scouts by purchasing land for their headquarters; a new roof for the St.Helens Sea Scouts headquarters; a canoe trainer for 2nd Kirkham Scout Group; a central heating system for Widnes Sea Cadet Corps; a substantial grant for Oakhill and District Guide Association; storage shelving for 1st Stretford Scout Group. In Charnock Richard we helped finance a completely new building for the use of Scouts, Guides and the community at large.

Clubs and Associations
Scoring equipment and foils were provided for the Dunes Fencing Club; Blackpool Tiggers received a bouncy castle; Campus Children's Holidays received tents; Hoghton Judo Club had new floor matting; Fairbridge had replacement tents; new equipment was provided for Clifton Rangers Junior Football club; the Lancaster Footlights Club had new chairs for the theatre's box; the South Ribble Pensioners Association had their new premises set up with furnishing

Religeous organisations
Upholland Parish Church received help for its rewiring and lighting; St. Chad's Church in Lancaster received help for its heating system; a themed garden was provided for St. Cuthbert's Church in Liverpool and Bamber Methodist Church received a piano.

Registration No. 239313