Firms are being urged to step up promotion of workplace giving during Payroll Giving Month in February amid concerns over low take up among employees.

Campaigners promoting the month of activity have launched a new supporter badge and toolkit to help businesses encourage their workers to make regular charity donations from their salary.

The campaigners warn that while more than 4,000 employers already offer payroll giving schemes, “awareness and take-up remain low”, particularly among younger employers, “who say they want simpler and more affordable ways to support charities through work”.

The new bade and toolkit “gives employers ready-to-use assets to raise awareness of payroll giving, demonstrate social responsibility, and make it easier for staff to donate directly to UK-registered charities from their gross pay”, according to campaigners.

The badge and toolkit can be downloaded here.

Workers who regularly donate through payroll fiving receive immediate tax relief and charities receive the full value of donations without needing to claim Gift Aid.

“Our goal with the Campaign Supporter Badge and Toolkit is to make it easier for businesses to champion Payroll Giving — not just during February, but year-round,” said Clare Mortimore, chief executive of charity and payroll giving agency Charitable Giving, which is supporting Payroll Giving Month.

“By engaging employees with a simple and tax-efficient way to give, employers can boost morale, strengthen their corporate values, and support charities across the UK.”

Charities supported by payroll giving include Together for Animals.

Its charity manager Caroline Gaskin said: “By offering a payroll giving scheme, businesses can make a real difference to charities like Together for Animals, helping us deliver support where it’s needed most.

“The funds we receive through payroll giving enable us to support our member charities, providing vital care, rehabilitation and protection for animals in need.

“Payroll giving is a vital source of income for good causes and gives employees an easy, tax-efficient way to support a charity close to their heart, knowing their donation is having a direct and lasting impact.”

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