Salvation Army customers in Nantwich help raise thousands

Customers at Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd’s (SATCoL) charity shop in Nantwich have helped raise £3,625 in a month.

It comes after shoppers agreed to Gift Aid their donations in SATCol stores around the region in May.

But the charity’s bosses say this could have risen to £14,966 if all donations had been gift-aided. Only 19% were, they say.

Area manager for SATCoL Christine Westwood says if more people knew how easy it was to join the scheme, this figure would be much higher.

Now Nantwich is joining Salvation Army shops across the UK to launch a campaign in store to encourage donors to ‘Say YES to Gift Aid’.

“We’re grateful for all the donations we receive,” said Christine.

“However it really does make a big difference when our customers agree to let us claim Gift Aid on their donations.

“As long as you are a UK taxpayer, all you need to do is complete a short declaration form at the shop.

“We then register you on our system so each time you come back with donations they’re automatically gift-aided. It couldn’t be simpler!”

Gift Aid means charities can claim an extra 25 pence from the Government for every pound they make.

The average bag of donations to a Salvation Army shop is worth around £20, so with Gift Aid it becomes worth £25.

“Gift Aid is a fantastic HMRC initiative and if everyone could sign up for it did so, that extra 25% would mean thousands more being raised locally each month.

“Across all our shops the potential contribution from Gift Aid adds up to millions each year.

“This money could be funding The Salvation Army’s valuable work with people who are vulnerable and in need across the UK.”

The Salvation Army provides homelessness and addiction services, care for older people, help at emergency incidents, support for adult victims of human trafficking, a Family Tracing Service and much more.

The Nantwich shop, on Beam Street, needs quality men’s, women’s, children’s and baby clothes as well as homeware, music and toys.

For details visit www.salvationarmytrading.org or call the shop on 01270 619474.