John Leech MP Calls On Local Businesses To Support Charities In South Manchester By Signing Up To Payroll Giving

1.14.58pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 8th Nov 2006

In the lead-up to Christmas, John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, is calling on businesses across South Manchester to support charities in the area and beyond by signing up to Payroll Giving, a scheme that enables employees to give to charity through the payroll and get tax relief at the time.

Businesses with less than 500 staff that sign up to Payroll Giving before 31st December 2006 will receive a cash payment of up to £500.

John Leech MP says:

"Christmas is traditionally a time for giving to charitable causes. Payroll Giving offers even the smallest organisations with minimal budgets the chance to connect with charities that support the local community and to receive a cash payout of up to £500 at the same time. As the Payroll Giving Grants programme draws to a close, I hope to see local businesses embrace the scheme and provide that vital income stream for good causes."

Payroll Giving enables employees to donate to any UK charity straight from their gross salary, giving immediate tax relief of up to 40%. As well as the cash payment to small businesses, the Payroll Giving Grants programme matches the first £10 donated by each employee up till March 2007.

As an additional incentive for businesses to get involved, January 2006 saw the launch of the Payroll Giving Quality Mark. Available to businesses of all sizes, the scheme provides all employers that sign up to Payroll Giving with a certificate, use of a logo and rewards those that achieve minimum level participation rates with Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards.

Key benefits of Payroll Giving are that it:

· Generates sustained, regular, reliable income for good causes

· Doubles the value of employees' donations (up to £10) until March 2007

· Gives employees immediate tax relief on donations

· Rewards SME employers with a grant of up to £500.

Each year, Payroll Giving raises £84 million for charities across the UK. The Payroll Giving Grants programme is administered and promoted by the Institute of Fundraising, funded by the Cabinet Office and supported by Business in the Community.

For free guidance materials and further information, call 0845 602 6786 or visit www.payrollgivingcentre.org.uk

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NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Payroll Giving Grants programme (www.payrollgivingcentre.org.uk) consists of two parts: a one-off grant of between £300 and £500 for employers who sign up to Payroll Giving before 31st December 06 (tiered according to the number of employees); and a matched gift of up to £10 per month till March 2007 from the Government for each new payroll giving donation. Matched donations apply during the first six months of an employee's gifts, until the end of the programme in March 2007.

2. The Institute of Fundraising (www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk) represents fundraisers and fundraising throughout the UK and is committed to the highest standards in fundraising management and practice. The Institute of Fundraising is the largest individual representative body in the voluntary sector with 4000 individual members and 250 organisational members. Registered charity no. 1079573, company limited by guarantee no. 3870883 and VAT registration no. 547 8930 96.