Money has poured in to charities and funds set up to help. But as Donna Ferguson writes, make sure it goes directly to the causes you support

One love, one aim … finding the best way to donate to victims of the terror attacks

After the terror came goodwill and compassion. As communities in Manchester and London struggled to come to terms with the recent terrorist attacks, there has been an upsurge in donations to help those affected.

The official We Love Manchester fund, set up by the lord mayor and the British Red Cross, has raised more than £10m for the victims of the Manchester attack, while a second pool, the UK Solidarity Fund, was established to support those affected in both London and Manchester, as well as victims of any future incidents across the UK.

Giving does not come without hurdles, however. Police have warned that fraudulent pages are being set up to exploit the goodwill of donors, and several appeals launched on fundraising websites GoFundMe and JustGiving have been suspended.

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So how can you best ensure your money reaches the desired causes?

Give to the right fund

The Charity Commission has taken the unusual step of directing donations for the Manchester victims specifically to the official We Love Manchester fund to ensure all the money pledged reaches the people it was intended to help. It aims to directly alleviate the suffering of those who have been injured or bereaved, and to ensure victims and their families do not face short-term financial difficulties.

Know the commissions

JustGiving, a for-profit organisation, takes 5% of all donations which it says pay for admin costs and improving its service to “help people raise money more efficiently”. About £4m has been donated via the website for Manchester, and nearly £200,000 for London – putting its fee at around £205,000. To avoid paying fees charged by fundraising websites and ensure 100% of money raised goes to the victims of the attacks, online donors can instead donate directly to the fund of their choice via the British Red Cross website. “None of the money raised will be used for British Red Cross administrative costs,” it says. “All of it will go to victims.”

Don’t tax it

Another easy way to ensure as much of your money as possible reaches its intended recipients is to make a Gift Aid declaration on your charitable donation form. If you are a UK taxpayer, regardless of the rate of tax you pay, charities can then claim an extra 25p for every £1 given. Your donations will qualify as long as you donate less than four times your entire income tax or capital gains tax bill. If you pay at the higher or additional rate you can claim back the difference between the rate you pay and the basic rate by declaring a charitable donation on your self-assessment tax return.

It’s also worth finding out whether your employer offers Payroll Giving. This enables you to make donations to charity through PAYE before tax, so that each £1 you give will only cost 80p as a basic rate taxpayer, 60p at the higher rate or 55p if you’re in the highest rate. Unlike Gift Aid, charities do not have to go to the hassle and expense of claiming back the tax on your donation. Employers can deduct any costs of running the scheme from their business profits before tax.

Homeless help

‘Donations increased as details emerged of the bravery of officers in the wake of the attack’ Police Dependants’ Trust

Christine Archibald, a 30-year-old Canadian social worker and homeless shelter volunteer, was killed during the London Bridge attack. Her family asked people to honour her by “making your community a better place”. “Volunteer your time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter. Tell them Chrissy sent you,” they said.

Donations have poured into homeless charities all over the world, with donors using the hashtag #ChrissySentMe on Twitter to make it clear the money is given in her memory. Homelessness charities Shelter and St Mungo’s, which works across London and the south of England, are among those that have seen an upsurge in donations in Chrissy’s name.

Spear, a small charity working in south-west London, says it has received enquiries about how to donate in Chrissy’s memory. In a message to the family it vowed to honour Chrissy’s legacy. “Our hearts go out to you,” staff wrote. “You have our word Spear will continue to help people make the journey from homelessness to independence.”

Pay homage to the police

The Police Dependants’ Trust supports officers and their families in the event of them being killed or seriously injured while on duty. The trust has supported a number affected by the attacks in recent months. Funds are used for financial and welfare support to those who have suffered a physical or psychological injury while on duty during a terrorist attack, and to help with the costs that arise following a death as a result of their duty.

Donations have increased in the wake of recent attacks. None of the money donated is used for its running costs: “100% goes directly into our work,” it says. “Dividends on investments cover all of the charity’s operating costs. Donations have increased as details have emerged of the bravery of police officers in the wake of the terrorist attacks, including the British Transport police officer who attacked the terrorists on London Bridge with only his baton.”

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Helping the victims

Winston’s Wish, the childhood bereavement charity, saw an immediate spike in calls to its freephone helpline following the attacks, particularly in Manchester where so many young people were affected. “Many of the calls have been from teachers and professionals asking how to help children,” it says. “Inevitably, this will lead to increased costs and means for us the need to raise more funds to cover these costs which is imperative.”

Volunteers from the Samaritans were in St Ann’s Square in Manchester and London Bridge in the aftermath of the attacks for anyone who needed emotional support.

Talk, Listen, Change, a small Manchester-based charity, is offering free counselling to anyone feeling traumatised by the Manchester bomb. Meanwhile, Foundation for Peace funds specialist caseworkers, to provide assistance to victims of terrorism.

Combat extremism

Hope not Hate, the anti-extremism charity, is encouraging supporters to hold a “Great Get Together” in their community next weekend, on the anniversary of MP Jo Cox’s death. “The idea is to answer hate with hope because there is more that unites than divides us,” it says.

The charity uses its funds to research extremism groups and says it has seen an upsurge in volunteers wishing to get involved with its work following the attacks.

Another charity, Building Bridges for Peace, aims to encourage young people to re-examine their beliefs and to grasp the potential for empathy and forgiveness, even in the most extreme circumstances. It was founded by Jo Berry, who gives talks with Patrick Magee, the former Provisional IRA paramilitary convicted for the Brighton bombing that killed her father, Sir Anthony Berry, in 1984.

WHO GIVES AND HOW

The Charities Aid Foundation says donating money remains the main way in which people engage with a charity’s work.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Volunteer fundraisers collect for the One Love Manchester appeal for victims of the bombing. Photograph: Reuters

While 61% of people in the UK donated money - averaging £40 - to a charity in 2016, just 17% said they had volunteered.

Men are less likely to give, but donate higher amounts when they do, while pensioners are the most likely to donate regularly, with a third of those over 65 saying they give every month.

Medical research is the most popular cause, followed closely by animal welfare and children or young people.

Of those who donated money to charity last year, just 52% used Gift Aid. However, this is an increase from 2015 when only 47% made sure their donations were as tax-efficient as possible.