Ways you can support the Society
As an independent local charity, we work hard to raise as much money as we can from a variety of sources for our worthwhile and very necessary services. This is particularly important as we are dependent on our own efforts to raise these funds.
Clearly, therefore, a vital source of income is that provided by you and friends and family. Financial help, from whatever source, and for however much someone can afford, is always gratefully received.
So how could you help? Have a look at the information below and see if there is any area where you may be able to support us.
Donations
This can be simply sending us a donation, either an individual one or from a group.
Donate on-line!
You, or family and friends, can also now donate on-line over the internet, through a service provided through the Co-operative Bank and Charity Choice. This enables givers to donate to the Society securely on-line and/or also if they wish to arrange a bequest in their will or even organise a will on-line. Donations can also be Gift-Aided through this service. It is quick and easy to donate on-line, so don't delay - DONATE NOW
Also, a novel way of saving that spare money is to have one of our "Molehole" collecting boxes in your home. We have now received our supply of new Molehole collecting boxes featuring the cute new HSB Mole. It would look delightful on your mantlepiece whilst collecting your loose change!
Many people are now asking family and friends to make a donation to HSB to mark an occasion like a special birthday or anniversary or in lieu of flowers in memory of a loved one who has passed away.
Regular Giving
It is also possible to donate regularly through a Standing Order. If you wish to do this, we can let you have a Standing Order form so that this can be set up for however much you decide and how frequently (usually monthly or annually) and paid direct to the Society's bank account. This may be allied, if you are a taxpayer, to Gift Aid to make your donation go even further.
Please download and print off a Bankers Order Form.
Events and Sponsorship
Individual or communal events
Whether as an individual or as part of a community group or a company's charity committee, you might like to think of running an event such as a coffee morning or plant stall or getting sponsored for, say, losing weight, giving up smoking or something similar. The possibilities are endless!
Sponsorship
Are you, or someone you know, planning that "once in a lifetime" adventure? Perhaps jumping out of an aeroplane (with a parachute!), running a marathon, doing a long distance walk or something else either sensible or a bit wacky! Have fun and help this worthwhile cause at the same time.
How about adopting us as your charity of the year?
Gift Aid
An area where you may also be able to make a difference is to Gift Aid donations to the Society. If you are an Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax payer, Gift Aid enables us to reclaim up to 28p for every pound you donate from the Inland Revenue, at no cost to yourself. This means that £10 can be turned into £12.80 through Gift Aid donations!!
We reclaimed £823 from the Inland Revenue in respect of Gift Aided donations made in the last financial year and this is a great extra boost to the Society's funds at no additional cost to the giver. Gift Aiding donations makes a real difference.
Please download and print off a ...
Gift Aid Form (ms-word 221k)
Gift Aid Form (pdf 58k)
Legacy
We are sure you will appreciate that we cannot continue to provide our services without the generosity of our supporters. Our supporters matter and do make a crucial difference. One way they make a difference is through a gift in their Will; which is also called a Legacy or Bequest.
If and when the time is right for you, after you have provided for your family and friends; it would help us if you could consider leaving us a gift in your Will. Gifts in Supporters Wills provides a large percentage of the Society's income; so we could not carry out our vital work without them!
Gifts to UK registered charities are also free of inheritance tax. Always take legal advice before making or altering your will.
Supporters who leave us a gift really make a difference!
HSB now has an information pack for those thinking about making a will. This provides some helpful information for you, including pointers on making a Will and Inheritance Tax Planning. If you would like to receive one, please let us know by calling or e-mailing us - contact details on the 'Contact Us' page.
Raise money for HSB just by searching the web!
HSB is listed on everyclick.com, an internet search engine with a difference - it donates half its revenues to charity! It does not cost us, or you, a penny. Now you can support HSB every time you search the web.
Please follow this link to our search page. When you have clicked on the link, the blue 'everyclick' homepage will appear. In the top right hand corner of the screen you will find Make everyclick your homepage. Click on this link and a box will appear which asks if you would like to set your homepage to: http://everyclick.com/uk/hertfordshiresocietyfortheblind/. Click yes and you are set up!
Use it every time you search the web so that all of your searching benefits the Society!
Company Support and/or Sponsorship
We would welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with companies who are looking to support a local voluntary organisation. The Society's services cover the whole of Hertfordshire and we are the only local charity providing front line services to visually impaired people in the County.
We have worked in the past with commercial organisations to, for example, provide visual impairment awareness sessions. These are designed to help employees who come into contact with visually impaired people understand the problems and needs they have.
You may have a policy to nominate a charity of the year; if so please consider us for the future!
Perhaps your employees might like to get involved in events and activities that could be turned into fund raising for HSB - have you any marathon runners, mountaineers or such like? Or perhaps staff who can fundraise through fun events. Your employees might like to get involved in helping with HSB activities. Also we are always looking for volunteers to help run our services; please take a look at the Volunteering page for further information.
Whichever way you look at it, such activity is good for your company as well as for us. Having employees involved in this way is good for morale and team building; it is also good publicity for you, as we always give credit where credit is due. HSB benefit in additional support for its services and the ultimate beneficiaries are the many blind and partially sighted people in the county.
There are other possible ways to help; for instance by:
- donating prizes for fundraising events
- sponsoring an HSB event
- setting up a payroll giving scheme
- matching employee donations to HSB.
If you have a social responsibility programme or similar and would be interested in supporting us, why not contact the Chief Executive Officer or Income Development Manager to see what can be done in partnership.
Have you a complaint about our fundraising?
The Society conducts its fundraising in accordance with the Institute of Fundraising's Codes of Fundraising Practice and compliance with these standards is overseen by the FundRaising Standards Board. Our Fundraising Promise is shown below. If you feel we have operated outside of these standards you have the right to make a complaint which will be dealt with by the Society in the first instance and, if necessary, by the FundRaising Standards Board at a later stage. Here is a link to our Fundraising Complaints Policy document (pdf - 29k).
Our Fundraising Promise
We are members of the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) self-regulatory scheme. The FRSB works to ensure that organisations raising money from the public do so honestly and properly. As members of the scheme, we follow the Institute of Fundraising's Code of Fundraising Practice and comply with the key principles embodied in the Codes and in this Promise.
We Are Committed to High Standards
- We do all we can to ensure that fundraisers and volunteers working with us to raise funds comply with the Codes and with this Promise
- We comply with the law including those that apply to data protection, health and safety and the environment
We Are Honest and Open
- We tell the truth and do not exaggerate
- We do what we say we are going to do
- We answer all reasonable questions about our fundraising activities and costs.
- Please contact us, visit our website hsb.tbdata.co.uk or see our Annual Report if you require further details
We Are Clear
- We are clear about who we are, what we do and how your gift is used
- We give a clear explanation of how you can make a gift and amend a regular commitment
We Are Respectful
- We respect the rights, dignities and privacy of our supporters and beneficiaries
- We will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift and if you do not want to give or wish to cease giving, we will respect your decision
- If you tell us that you don't want us to contact you in a particular way we will not do so
We Are Fair and Reasonable
- We take care not to use any images or words that cause unjustifiable distress or offence
- We take care not to cause unreasonable nuisance or disruption
We Are Accountable
- If you are unhappy with anything we've done whilst fundraising, you can contact us to make a complaint
- We have a complaints procedure, a copy of which is available on request. If we cannot resolve your complaint, we accept the authority of the FRSB to make a final adjudication
