FOOL'S EYE VIEW
Children In Need

By Jane Mack (TMFJane)
November 15, 2002

A few weeks ago I decided that I wanted to de-clutter my house. I started with my wardrobe – and was absolutely thrilled when my cleaner pounced on the pile of stuff that I was planning to throw into the dustbin.

She's got a 12-year old daughter who she knew would love to get into the tiny mini-skirt that I'd had for the last 20 years (and really shouldn't dream of looking at again at my age). Not to mention a number of short cropped tops that would show off her newly-pierced belly button.

These days I'm far too old to wear that kind of stuff and I was rather pleased to see someone picking over my old eighties stuff knowing that it was going to a good home.

The one thing I couldn't put on the pile of clothes to be thrown out was an evening dress I've had for nearly twenty years. It's long and black and ruched (which, frankly, hides a multitude of sins) and it's got a fish-tail style thing at the bottom. The sort of thing Bette Davis would have worn in one of her "Let's not wish for the moon when we've got the stars" type of film.

I wore it once for work when I was working for the BBC. I went to the daily police press conference in it and sported it through all my interviews that particular day. I'd have been embarrassed if the reason hadn't been because I was being sponsored for the BBC's Children in Need annual fund-raising event. Well, you have to join in, don't you?

Surprisingly, the Government's quite generous when it comes to giving to charity. For example, if you're planning to donate to Children in Need, the charity will be able to reclaim the tax you would have paid on that donation from the Inland Revenue. So if you give £10 using Gift Aid your donation is worth £12.80 to the charity.

You can also give to charity on a regular basis if your employer has set up a Payroll Giving scheme. You'll get tax relief on your gifts and as an added bonus the Government is adding a further 10% to all such donations up to April 2003.

As well as giving money through Gift Aid and Payroll Giving, you can get income tax relief for gifts to charity of certain shares. You simply deduct the amount from your income on your tax return and, added bonus, it's at your highest rate of tax.    

You're also not liable for Capital Gains Tax when you make a gift of assets, such as land or shares, to charity, even if you've made a taxable profit on it. And outright gifts and bequests to charity are completely free of inheritance tax.

Obviously, with today's Children in Need appeal it's far easier just to donate money and you can donate online and by ticking the relevant box on the form. They'll be able to reclaim the tax on your behalf.

And for old time's sake, I'm sitting here typing this in my long black ruched evening gown which, I'm thrilled to find I can still get into!

More: Inland Revenue Charitable Giving | BBC Children in Need