Regular readers of the Myakka blog will know that we work with the Somerset Community Foundation and are proud to have supported them over the past four years, building our Myakka Fund with the specific aim of helping communities in South Somerset.
SCF have recently partnered LocalGiving.com supporting them in the latest ‘Grow your tenner’ campaign which starts on 25th September. The website is similar in principle to justgiving.com, but rather than larger, national charities, the site promotes local causes which have been approved through their area community foundation. These local groups are often small operations who don’t necessarily have charitable status such as youth schemes, allotment projects, disability forums, sports clubs, and day centres. As such fundraising can be difficult and often absorbs a lot of their valuable volunteer time. LocalGiving.com provides an easy way for local people to find and support these important grassroots ventures and as donations are processed through the Somerset Community Foundation, they can also benefit from Giftaid which otherwise wouldn’t be available to them.
From 25th September, there is a government-backed initiative to the value of £500,000 to ‘Grow your tenner’ – every donation of £10 or more made through LocalGiving.com will have another £10 matched to it. Considering the Giftaid benefit too, this could turn your £10 donation into around £22 of actual cash for your chosen group! While Myakka’s involvement is through our support for Somerset Community Foundation, this is countrywide initiative so you can get involved to help projects in your local area. Localgiving.com have an easy to use search facility so you can find all the good causes within a set radius to your postcode. This way you can find out more about what’s happening in your local area and chose who you would like to support. But the match funds are limited and will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, so you need to act fast to give your chosen group the best benefit!
