CAF is growing giving at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show

Posted by CAF on March 28th, 2007

CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) is sponsoring the ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

As part of its mission to increase charitable giving, CAF will be using the event to launch its groundbreaking Family Account under the banner ‘Growing Giving’.

These Accounts are designed to encourage parents and grandparents to engage their children in the act of giving.

Over the past decade, giving to charity has failed to increase as a proportion of GDP. So while we as a nation may be getting wealthier, our giving isn’t increasing as a result. Another major challenge for charities is that donors tend to be older, so encouraging younger generations to give is now an imperative.

Sheila Hooper, Executive Director of Individual Giving at CAF explained: “The work of charities underpins every aspect of our lives from the local Scout group or place of worship to international aid and the environment. It’s essential that children learn to understand and support this work from an early age, so that future generations can continue to benefit from it.”

CAF Family Accounts can be opened by relatives or even family friends. And because the Accounts are tax efficient, CAF will reclaim the basic rate of tax on every penny deposited, boosting the balance by around 30%.

The main account can then be used to fund individual ’sub’ accounts in the name of each child, allowing them to make donations to the charities they choose, whenever they choose.

Each child will receive a starter pack, explaining how they can make their gifts either by charity ‘cheque’, or online via their giving area on cafonline.org. The website offers a wealth of information on charities, from a detailed search of all 170,000 registered UK charities, through to figures on giving in the UK, and the very latest worldwide disaster and appeals’ news.

Children using the Account will be able to search for any cause, learn about charities in their local area, or donate to major fundraising appeals like Comic Relief.

According to Sheila: “The CAF Family Charity Account is a great way for family members of all ages to get involved in giving to charity. And it’s a great first step in nurturing a sense of social responsibility in the donors of tomorrow.”

The CAF Family Account is being launched in May at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Find out how you can grow your giving >

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