Personnel

The Vicar		The Revd. Richard Cowles	01628	621527
The Churchwardens
		Ian Murray John Seymour	01628 01628	623041 625355
Deputy Churchwardens
		F. Vernon Webster James Ashworth John Blaxland	01628 01628	625934 629790
Parochial Church Council
Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer Envelope & Gift Aid Secretary Electoral Roll Officer		Kenneth Amery Jim Tucker Tony Ellison Wenda Fowles	01628 01628 01628 01628	675425 673685 622090 629538
Organist		Paul Wingfield	07731	429242
Assistant Organist		Lesley Burch	01628	629979
Director of Music		Oliver Gooch	01628	623670
Sunday School		Natasha Teeder	01628	674469
Bellringers
Tower Captain Secretary		Graham Firman Wenda Fowles	01628 01628	636484 629538
Friends of St Michael's		John Blaxland	01628	629790
Verger		Audrey Ashby	01628	629868
Church Flowers		Maggie Jans	01628	635732
Church of England Controlled Schools
Braywood Headteacher Holyport Headteacher		Mrs. S. Calvert Mrs. H. Wooller	01628 01628	623660 627743
Website Addresses
St Michael's Church		www.braystmichael.co.uk
Diocese of Oxford		www.oxford.anglican.org

What is GIFT AID all about?

As you will probably know by now Alan Briggs, who has looked after the Planned Giving or “Envelope Scheme” for a number of years, has moved to East Anglia and the task has been passed on to me, Tony Ellison

A few questions already put to me suggest that clarification of some points may be useful so I hope the following may help

PLANNED GIVING
The aim is that the Church will have a reasonably firm advance indication of income as those who participate in the scheme give a “pledge” to pay £X per annum, although this can be changed at any time.

One method of giving is by bank standing order direct to the PCC accounts, either monthly, quarterly or annually and this method is used by some members.

The most popular form of planned giving is through the formal envelope scheme under which each donor is given a pack of one year’s envelopes identified by unique number; the colour changes with a new “envelope year” and is currently green. Using these enables donors to set aside the appropriate amount each week, even if not attending Church every week, and often envelopes are “bulked up” when someone has been away for a period. The majority of planned giving is under the Gift Aid scheme (see more below).

UNPLANNED GIVING
The usual form of unplanned giving is cash placed in the collection plates. However if you are a taxpayer (see below) a considerable extra benefit is gained by use of the white “Gift Aid” envelopes available on the pews, as long as they are fully completed - there is no benefit if they are left blank or only partially completed.

These envelopes were originally intended for use by occasional or visiting worshippers but it is apparent that some contributors are using them regularly. If this applies to you I wonder if you might prefer to use the formal “green envelope” scheme which would at least mean you do not have to write out your details each time! However, you are welcome to continue as at present if you find that more convenient.

WHAT IS “GIFT AID”
If you sign a simple form the Church can reclaim an amount representing the tax which you will have paid on the income from which you are making the donation and this currently amounts to an extra 28p for each £ given.

Why 28p when the tax rate is 22p in the £? Example - at a tax rate of 22% you need to have an income of £128 to have £100 left after tax and the charity can claim the £28 back from the Inland Revenue (ignoring tiny fractions).

There is no direct link between the Church and your personal tax records; the charity merely submits a list of names and amounts donated in the year in order to reclaim the tax on the total figure. However the Inland Revenue reserve the right to carry out spot checks to ensure that donors have paid sufficient tax to cover the amount reclaimed in their name and each year a number of charities have their books audited to this end. Therefore you should only complete a Gift Aid Declaration if you do pay an amount of tax which would cover the amount reclaimable on your donation(s).

But what qualifies as “tax” in this context? It is any income or capital gains tax paid on earnings, pensions, sale of assets etc. and includes dividend income from which tax has been deducted at a lower rate and also interest on bank or building society deposits where interest is paid net but the tax has not been reclaimed by you.

Clearly the majority of donors will have paid some qualifying tax and I would urge everyone who is eligible to make their contributions under Gift Aid which results in a substantial addition to our income (and there is considerable satisfaction in getting money back from the Chancellor!)

GENERAL
Perhaps I may remind existing donors that the amount donated may be altered at any time; all I ask is that you let me know so that I can amend the record accordingly, a telephone call will be sufficient.

Finally, a request. If you are currently using the green envelope scheme and have envelopes with a serial number between 60 and 93 please telephone me; I hasten to add there is nothing to worry about, merely a small gap in the records that I would like to fill.

Thank you for taking the time to read this; I hope it will have been helpful.

If you have any questions on this subject, or would like to join the envelope scheme, or are unsure if you are already on the Gift Aid scheme, please telephone me.

Tony Ellison, Tillat House, Sturt Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2JF.

Tel. 01628 622090