How companies can help the hospice

There are many ways in which both local and national companies can help to support the hospice

The primary route for organisations to become supporters of the hospice is through our Business Support Group. But there are also many other ways in which you can help.

Supporting the hospice is not only an excellent way of meeting corporate social responsibility goals, it can also deliver great, cost-effective publicity.

Event sponsorship and support

The Wigan & Leigh Hospice runs many events throughout the year, often attracting hundreds or thousands of supporters. These include: golf days, our Manchester to Blackpool bike ride, 'Star Trekkers' ladies sponsored walk, our Light for a Life appeal and much more. Sponsorship packages are available for almost all of our events - and we always look for ways to maximise your publicity from the event. See our fundraising events.

Payroll giving

Around two thirds of people give to charity - and giving via your payroll is simple and tax-effective. Around 5 million people already donate to charity via their payroll. Employees nominate to which charities their donations go; the deductions are made from the before-tax pay. You then give the money to an Inland Revenue-approved payroll-giving agency, which distributes the money on your behalf. The payroll-giving agency deducts a small administration fee, but this still remains a highly efficient way to donate. You can get more information about payroll giving from the HM Revenue & Customs website.

Staff development

Many organisations provide experiential training for staff - getting them to work together on what are effectively dummy projects. The end result should be a stronger team. However, there is an alternative - many of the hospice's events would benefit from teams to help organise and implement them. During this process, the teams will learn many of the same things they would on an expensive training programme (communications, team-building, telephone skills, organisation skills, confidence building and so on) - but in the real world. We need help on projects large and small and can tailor your involvement to suit. The teams taking part will not only increase their skills and confidence, but also contribute to a local charity - giving them a more rewarding experience.

Tax-efficient donations

Companies can claim tax relief for donations to UK charities as a charge against income in their corporation tax. If you're a partner or sole trader, then gifts to charities can be claimed on your tax self-assessment form. When gifts are made from partnerships, they are treated as donations of an equal amount from each partner, unless the partners specify otherwise. Please talk to your accountant or tax advisor for more information or check the information about gifts made to charity from companies on the HM Revenue & Customs website.

Gifts of equipment

If your business makes a gift to a UK charity of plant, machinery or equipment, which was used in the course of your normal trading activities, you can treat its disposal as being at nil value (rather than market value) in your capital allowances computation. As a result, your business will get full capital allowances in respect of the gifted equipment - equal to its cost.

Gifts of your normal stock

If you're a business and you make a gift to a UK charity of goods, which are manufactured or sold as part of your normal trading activities, you can claim the cost of those goods in your business accounts. Nothing is included as a trading receipt so you will get full relief for the cost of those goods against your taxable profit.

Secondment of employees

You can treat the secondment of employees to a UK charity as a legitimate business expense. If your business continues to pay that person you can deduct the cost (wages and expenses) of employing them as if they continued to work for you. You should continue to operate PAYE on their salary.

VAT

The donation of goods by a business to a UK charity for sale, export or hire is a zero-rated supply for VAT purposes.

Gifts in kind

Companies can make gifts in kind of almost anything - equipment, employees' time, adding our literature in with yours when you mail customers, adding a page about us to your website, out-of-date products - and much more. Find out more about gifts in kind from the HM Revenue & Customs website.

Advertising sponsorship

It can be more cost-effective to appear as a sponsor on some of our advertising or promotional material than to undertake your own advertising. By associating your company with a trusted, local brand, you can raise your profile and reach a wider audience.