Last week, the Chancellor set out the final Budget before the election. It contained a number of measure that will benefit charities and churches. Greg Hands MP has welcomed the positive impact these new measures will have on the local area.
The various measures in the Budget to support charities and churches were:
Extending the Gift Aid Small Donations scheme limit from £5,000 to £8,000. Every weekend thousands of people go out and raise sums for their local charities across Britain through sponsored events and high-street collections. The Gift Aid Small Donations scheme lets charities claim a Gift Aid style top-up payment on the first £5,000 they raise. This Budget increases that limit to £8,000. This will particularly benefit the 6,500 charities that currently claim on the full £5,000, who we expect will now claim on the full £8,000.
The Church Roof Fund trebled. In December, we set out a £15 million Church Roof Fund to support church roof appeals. It has been heavily over-subscribed, so we have almost trebled it to £40million.
Supporting the regimental charities of regiments that fought in Afghanistan and contributing to the permanent memorial of those who died in Afghanistan and Iraq. The government will provide funds to the regimental charities of every regiment that fought in that conflict; and will contribute funding to the permanent memorial to those who died there and in Iraq.
A £25 million Aged Veterans fund. This fund for healthcare and medical research will help our eldest veterans, including nuclear test veterans.
Incentivising more defibrillators in public places and supporting rapid response vehicles for medical emergencies. The Budget announced £1 million to help buy defibrillators for public places, including schools, and support training in their use to save more lives. It also announced a £100,000 grant to support charities providing rapid response vehicles for medical emergencies.
Chelsea and Fulham MP, Greg Hands is himself a member of local church congregation, and is a trustee or patron of local charities, including the Brunswick Club for Young People. Greg said “It is five years since we came into Government and inherited an economy on its knees, but now the economy is growing. There are more people in work than ever before, living standards are rising, the deficit is down, and debt is set to start falling as a share of our national income.
“The Budget had a lot of good news for Chelsea and Fulham. As well as income tax cuts, cuts in fuel and beer duties, and a landmark package to back savers, there were also important measures to help local charities and churches.
“Charities and Churches serve as central pillars of our community, not only providing invaluable help to those in need, but also performing an important social function for worshipers and volunteers. Thousands of people in my constituency regularly give up their time to help such groups, organisations and churches and it is right that these are recognised in the Budget. These measures build on the measures in our long term economic plan that have consistently backed charities, and will I hope, be welcome.”