Getting involved with Community Fundraising

Our volunteer fundraisers mean so much to us - not only are they raising the essential funds that we need to carry out our work, but they are also helping to raise awareness about the work that we do. Some of our volunteer fundraisers work alone, some with friends, and some join one of the many fundraising committees that we are lucky to have.

We have a great team of regional fundraisers located throughout the country ready to offer support and advice.

If you are interested in finding out more about undertaking your own fundraising for LEPRA, or about joining or even setting up a local fundraising group/committee, then click on the area in which you live from the list below for more information. Alternatively call 08451 21 21 21 or email our Head Office by completing our information request form.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

LEPRA South East : Covers Beds, Berkshire, Cambs, Channel Islands, Essex, Herts, Kent, London, Norfolk, Northants, Suffolk, Surrey, West/East Sussex.

LEPRA South West : Covers Bristol, BANES, S Glos., N. Somerset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, South Wales.

LEPRA Central : Covers North & Mid Wales, Cheshire, Warwickshire, Leicester, Merseyside, Manchester, S Yorks, W Yorks, N Yorks, Humberside, Lancs, Isle of Man, Birmingham, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire.

LEPRA North : Covers Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Tyne & Wear.

How to Help

Seven year-old Balakrishna

Seven-year-old Balakrishna is very lucky to be alive today. This small child has already had more to face in his short life than many of us do in a lifetime. Balakrishna lost his mother to AIDS before his first birthday and was left with his father who was already ill and who struggled to feed him. Fortunately for the family a 50-year-old maidservant, Padmavathy, took compassion on the boy and his father and tried to help whenever she could.

Unfortunately, Padmavathy can only earn money when work is available which, in the rural community where she lives, is not very often. Wages are also incredibly low with casual labourers earning 50 rupees a day if they are lucky – about 60 pence.

Sadly soon Balakrishna’s father also died from AIDS, leaving the boy an orphan. Padmavathy felt she had no alternative but to assume total responsibility for the child, which she did willingly and has cared for him ever since. Even when Balakrishna himself was diagnosed HIV positive when he was four years old, this did not deter her from continuing to care for him. While it has not been an easy time for Padmavathy, young Balakrishna has had an even more difficult time. He has had three life-threatening episodes but has managed to survive them.

Padmavathy helps Balakrishna with homework

Staff from LEPRA’s Sreyassu project then stepped in to help. Through medical and nutritional support from the project and Padmavathy’s wonderful care, Balakrishna gained a kilo in weight in four months. He is now studying with LEPRA’s support and has begun to live a nearly normal life which had been denied him since birth. Everyone is delighted at his progress.

There are many ways that you can help make a real difference to people's lives, and the links on the left give just a few ideas. If you would like further information please contact us by using our information feedback form or calling 01206 216700.

The companies featured on LEPRA's shopping village will make a donation or pay commission to LEPRA if you register or make a purchase by clicking through to them from the links below.

Remember, in order for LEPRA to benefit, it is important that you follow the links below. See individual descriptions for details of how LEPRA will benefit.

Thank you for supporting our work by shopping with our affiliated partners.

2% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	A fantatstic range of over 8,000 top quality branded products plus free delivery on orders of £100 or more. Clicking through to Argos from this link will generate a 2% commission to LEPRA on sales. Click here to visit Argos
£2.90 to LEPRA when you register FREE with eBay
	LEPRA has teamed up with internet auction house eBay to sell items on line. All monies raised support LEPRA's work overseas. You must be a registered eBay user to bid and you can join - FREE OF CHARGE - by clicking the link here . What's more, eBay will make a donation to LEPRA for every person joining from this location. Sign up now and support LEPRA today. We also need items to sell. If you have something - books, photographs, jewellery or collectables - that you would like to donate to LEPRA for our eBay auctions please send them to the fundraising office at our usual address.
5% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	Abebooks claim to be the world's largest online marketplace for secondhand, rare, and out-of-print books. Abebooks connects those who buy books with those who sell them, providing abundant selection at affordable prices. Every day, thousands of people find books they want on Abebooks. Click here to visit Abebooks
Up to £10 per new member to LEPRA
	BooksDirect is the umbrella organisation behind some of the UK's leading book clubs. BooksDirect is a great opportunity for book lovers everywhere to keep up-to-date with all the latest publications in the book world - 365 days a year! Click here to visit BooksDirect
5% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	Debenham's Department Store online offers a selection of Flowers, Gifts, Fashion, Lingerie, Home and Health and Beauty products you can buy online and have delivered directly to your door. Click here to visit Debenhams
2.6% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	CD WOW! Sell Chart New and Pre release CD's and DVD for the best possible prices. All new CD's are just £8.99 and DVD's start from £4.99, all orders are inclusive of FREE DELIVERY, so the price you see is the price you pay. Click here to visit CD WOW!
5% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	Blackstar.co.uk sells the widest range of DVDs, Videos and games from blockbuster titles to TV series to classics at the best prices with free UK and EIRE delivery. They are offering 5% commission. Click here to visit Blackstar
2% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	Dixons the well-known high street retailer, offers over 2000 quality branded electrical products online at great prices. Dixons will reward LEPRA with 2% commission on sales generated. Click here to visit Dixons
8% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	The Kids Window are a leading UK online store for fine quality baby and children's fashion wear, casual wear and specialty clothing. The Kids Window will pay LEPRA 8% per sale. Click here to visit the Kids Window
9% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	GearZone.co.uk sells over 60 leading brands of outdoor equipment and clothing. GearZone pays LEPRA a 9% commission on sales generated via our website. Click here to visit GearZone
2% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	PC World offers a vast range of competitively priced products, including the latest technology from all the top computing brands. Click here to visit PC World
7% of retail sales value to LEPRA
	WHSmith.co.uk offers access to over 2.1 million products, including 1.5 million books and thousands of CDs, DVDs, videos, computer games and stationery products. Click here to visit WH Smith
5% of web site sales donated to LEPRA
	Sara Beazley is a London-based Fine Art Graduate who has also recently completed an MA in Printmaking. She has exhibited in London and elsewhere and in Februaury 2002 her print Large Blue Bag won the London Print Studio Award at The National Print Exhibition. Sara has kindly offered to donate a percentage of the proceeds of her work to LEPRA. A donation equivalent to 5% of the purchase price of prints and 10% for the purchase price of paintings will be made for every sale. Please click here to view Sara's website where you can see examples of her work.

LEPRA has teamed up with internet auction house eBay to sell items on line. All monies raised support LEPRA's work overseas. You must be a registered eBay user to bid and you can join - FREE OF CHARGE - by clicking the link here . What's more, eBay will make a donation to LEPRA for every person joining from this location. Sign up now and support LEPRA today.

We also need items to sell. If you have something - books, photographs, jewellery or collectables - that you would like to donate to LEPRA for our eBay auctions please send them to the fundraising office at our usual address.

LEPRA South East covers:

London, Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Channel Islands, Essex, Herts, Kent, Norfolk, Northants, Suffolk, Surrey, West and East Sussex.

Contact Details:
c/o Rosalind Kerry
Community Fundraising Manager
The Beehive
Dolphinton
nr West Linton
Edinburgh
EH46 &HH

Email: Southeast@lepra.org.uk
Tel/Fax: 01968 682356

The team in the South East are dedicated to raising as much money as possible to improve the lives of people affected by leprosy. We do this by inviting people to take part in an array of exciting and rewarding activities.

Along with the other regions of the UK the South East team raises much of its vital funds by involving students of all ages in educative and stimulating school and college based events.

So, if you live or work in the south east of England and are keen to find out more about these team-building and other events, we'd love to hear from you. And if your school or college would like a presentation from one of our specialist fundraisers, this can be arranged. Or maybe you are a budding fundraiser and have your own brilliant idea for raising money for LEPRA?

Whatever your involvement, by contacting us you will have the opportunity to make a profound difference to the lives of those affected by leprosy.

We look forward to hearing from you.

LEPRA South-East.

LEPRA South West covers:

Bristol, BANES, S Glos., N. Somerset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, South Wales.

Contact Details:

For queries relating to the South-West please contact:-

c/o Rosalind Kerry
Community Fundraising Manager
The Beehive
Dolphinton
Nr West Linton
Edinburgh
EH46 7HH

Email: Southwest@lepra.org.uk
Tel: 01968 682369
Fax: 01968 682356

Why not have some fun and help our team to raise money to cure people of leprosy and give them back their lives. We can organise a workout or karaoke in you school or workplace using professional people or perhaps you would prefer a Bad Hair Day.

Whatever you want to do we can provide a speaker to tell you about LEPRA and we have appropriate materials for you to use to help you raise money. We will do all the work for you, even count and bank the money or you can choose to do it yourself. We are always available to help and advise.

We would love to come to your Church or a Group you may belong to. We give very interesting talks and welcome the opportunity to inform people of the problems and disabilities caused by leprosy.

Perhaps you would like to join one of our fundraising groups or even set up a new one with your friends, work colleagues or family. Perhaps you could hold a car boot sale, have a coffee morning, or involve a sports group you belong to by holding a tournament for LEPRA. The list is endless and we are always open to ideas.

We think fundraising should be fun with the added satisfaction that you are curing people of leprosy and giving them a future to look forward to.

Please join us in our task in the South West. We look forward to hearing from you and will help in any way we can. Don't delay. Call today.

LEPRA Central covers:

North & Mid Wales, Cheshire, Warwickshire, Leicester, Merseyside, Manchester, S Yorks, W Yorks, N Yorks, Humberside, Lancs, Isle of Man, Birmingham, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire.

Contact Details:

Eileen Evans and the LEPRA Central team.

Eileen Evans Regional Manager 12 Armley Close Long Buckby Northants NN6 7YG Email: eileen_evans@lepra.org.uk Tel: 01327 843322 Fax: 01327 844357

Welcome to LEPRA Central. Together with my team of Community Fundraisers we raise money all over the Midlands and North of England. Committed and hard-working, we try to take the spirit of LEPRA to all that we meet, talking to people about leprosy and the effect it has on peoples' lives and to fundraise in an enjoyable and satisfying way.

With both High and Junior schools our main fundraising activities are Fun Workouts and "Bad Hair" days. With adult groups, clubs and societies sponsored events are popular. We are always visiting schools to talk to the children about the work of LEPRA and give them the opportunity to help our cause by taking part in our Workouts or "Bad Hair" days a couple of weeks later. The children take home a letter explaining what they have been asked to do and an envelope for them to collect as many donations (or sponsors) as possible to take part in the LEPRA event.

Fun Workouts have proved to be very popular, supervised by qualified instructors, the children not only receive exercise but also have the opportunity to do it to some of their favourite music.

Our "Bad Hair" days (need we say more) which offer children the chance to wear their hair just as they like are always popular. These activities in conjunction with our talks are not only fun but also form an important part of their education of the wider world and the issues within it. Each child that takes part gets a "Thank You" Certificate and anyone who manages to raise over £21 will also receive a LEPRA T-Shirt.

For adults and groups we have introduced a number of exciting and fun events over the past few years including White Water Rafting and Skydiving , all for the adventurous and fun loving! We are also available to give talks to organisations, churches and other interested groups which are informative and entertaining.

If you would like more information about any of our activities or about how you can help with fundraising, please contact us. We promise that our first thought won't be to persuade you to jump 10,000 feet out of an aeroplane!

Kindest regards,

Eileen Evans
Regional Manager - LEPRA Central

LEPRA North covers:

Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Tyne & Wear

Contact Details:

Rosalind Kerry Regional Manager The Beehive Dolphinton Nr West Linton Edinburgh EH46 7HH Email: ros_kerry@lepra.org.uk Tel: 01968 682369 Fax: 01968 682356

Welcome to LEPRA North!! I hope that this brief introduction to LEPRA activity taking place in the NE of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will inspire you to get in touch with me and to become involved in a fundraising activity for LEPRA.

I lead a small but very energetic and committed team of fundraisers who are always ready to provide support and encouragement to schools, individuals or corporate /community teams who want to fundraise to help LEPRA cure and support people who have leprosy.

Within both Primary and Secondary Schools LEPRA North offers stimulating fundraising activities and encourages students to think beyond their own community and investigate the many different aspects of our Developing World. When a school works with LEPRA their students understanding of the wider world is enriched by excellent educational input through LEPRA talks and materials.

LEPRA North also organises a number of FUN FILLED FUNDRAISING EVENTS to attract and meet the needs of adult supporters. Why not consider entering a team in one of LEPRA North's White Water Rafting Events, held in the beautiful surroundings of Loch Tay in May and October each year. This terrific event provides energetic and enjoyable activity and also has a strong team building element. Perhaps your own work team would welcome the opportunity to work together to conquer the rapids and help LEPRA to conquer leprosy!

For the energetic individual The Edinburgh to St Andrews Cycle Ride provides a fun day out cycling the beautiful Fife countryside to St Andrews. This highly regarded and well-organised event attracts hundreds of cyclists annually and raises much needed funds for LEPRA. Now that is what I call Pedal Power!

Whatever your personal interest may be, LEPRA North is committed to encouraging your support. LEPRA estimates that it costs just £21 to cure someone of leprosy, your support can make a difference. The LEPRA North Team would welcome your support and I look forward to hearing from you.

Rosalind Kerry
Regional Manager - LEPRA North

Recycle for LEPRA.

Your old mobile telephones and used toner and printer cartridges can be worth thousands of pounds to LEPRA! LEPRA has teamed up with leading recycling company Eurosource to recycle unwanted mobile phones and used toner cartridges. Every time you donate a cartridge or old mobile phone to us for Eurosource's Recycling Appeal, we will receive a cash donation.

Eurosource are able to recycle these items and sell them to developing countries, and shares 50% of the profits they make with charities including LEPRA. So put your old mobile phones, chargers and phone batteries, plus printer inkjet and toner cartridges to one side.

You can send them in sturdy packaging to Eurosource (LEPRA) at Freepost SCO4193, Falkirk FK1 2BR. You'll be helping the environment and helping our fundraising. What's more, it won't cost you a penny. If you would like to arrange a collection in your office or local school we are able to send you a promotional collection box which will be delivered and collected for free.

Send us your used postage stamps.

LEPRA can raise money through selling your old, used postage stamps. If you have collected some stamps you would like to donate, please contact Irene Allen on (01206) 216732 or send them directly to her at our Head Office address.

School Fundraising

LEPRA's community teams are both educators and fundraisers. A typical school visit incorporates education about leprosy and LEPRA, followed up by any of a number of fundraising exercises. Our community fundraisers are often asked to take classes or address assemblies and are quite happy to do so.

Shout about your school and let the opposition know all about it. If you've raised money for LEPRA we'll give you a mention on our schools Roll of Honour and provide a link into your own website as our way of saying thank-you.

LEPRA has developed a fantastic range of materials for your school to learn more about leprosy and the work of LEPRA, and to get involved with a fundraising activity. All are tailored to meet your requirements.

Our aim is to encourage students to think beyond their own environment, and introduce them to an often hidden aspect of the world they live in. Our team of regional fundraisers are ready to organise the whole process and will come to the school to give an educational talk, and to organise a fun fundraising event - ensuring that your students get a learning experience they won't forget!

At all of the events we organise, we make sure that everyone gets something special to take home with them: a badge for all those that participate and a T-Shirt for anyone who raises £21 or over.

If you are interested in finding out more about what we can do, then click below for more information!

The following list of fundraising events is not exhaustive and we are always happy to look at other ideas for fundraising in schools - remember, LEPRA's regional fundraiser will be there throughout and will organise everything for you!

Fun Work-out

Great for exercising, the format is the same as above, but instead of singing we bring along a trained aerobics instructor who will get the children leaping for LEPRA in no time! Suitable for all ages

Karaoke Challenge

Do your students fancy themselves as a Kylie, Will Young or a member of S Club? If so, this could be the challenge for them.

Pupils collect sponsorship money in the week leading up to the challenge and bring their donations into school on the day. LEPRA provides the karaoke machine and an MC, the students do the rest!

Suitable for ages 8 + (teachers included!)

Quiz Challenge

A real brain-strain for children to get their teeth into. The format is the same as other events, but we ask the children to raise sponsorship money based on how many questions they get right - who knows you may even discover the next Jeremy Paxman!

Suitable for age 8-12

Colouring Competition

We have a variety of colouring competitions for younger children, to bring out the next Damien Hurst or Tracey Emmin.

Suitable for primary school children

House to House Collections

Pupils collect for LEPRA during a designated week in their own street. LEPRA provides all the necessary materials and will offer the school and students guidance on how the collections should take place.

Suitable for age 16 and over only

To arrange for a school activity at your place of learning, please click one of the links below. The regional manager for your area will be in touch.

LEPRA South East : Beds, Berkshire, Cambs, Channel Islands, Essex, Herts, Kent, London, Norfolk, Northants, Suffolk, Surrey, West/East Sussex.

LEPRA South West : Bristol, BANES, S Glos., N. Somerset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, South Wales.

LEPRA Central : North & Mid Wales, Warwickshire, Leicester, Merseyside, Manchester, S Yorks, W Yorks, N Yorks, Humberside, Lancs, Isle of Man, Birmingham, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Derbyshire.

LEPRA North : Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Tyne & Wear.

Tax Efficient Giving

From April 2000 changes were made to Gift Aid, Payroll Giving, Trading, VAT and Fundraising to make giving to charity and the administration of the charity simpler.

Gift Aid explained

Gift Aid was introduced by the government to encourage more people to donate to charity. It makes donations worth almost 30% more, by allowing the charity to claim back tax, if the giver is a UK taxpayer.

You do not need to be working full time in order to pay tax. For example if you have a deposit bank or building society account, own stocks or shares, or have a pension other than the basic state pension, you are probably a taxpayer and can Gift Aid your donations making them worth almost 30% more at no extra cost to yourself.

You only need to sign one Gift Aid form to cover all the donations you have made to LEPRA since 6 April 2001 and all future donations. If you support other charities and wish to Gift Aid your donations to them, you will need to complete a separate form.

If you are a UK tax payer and would like to Gift Aid your donation to LEPRA,
please click here to download/print a Gift Aid Declaration form .

You must pay an amount of income tax or capital gains tax equal to the tax we reclaim on your donations (28p for every £1 you give). Please advise us if you cease to pay tax or move home.

Gift Aid and the Higher Rate Taxpayer

Many higher rate tax payers don't realise that there is a tax benefit to them as well as the charities they support, if they use Gift Aid to make their donations. They are missing out on a tax incentive for themselves!

Gift Aid donations are treated as having had basic rate tax deducted, which the charity can reclaim. However, if you are a higher rate tax payer, you can personally claim relief on the difference between the basic and higher rates of tax.

For example, if you pay tax at 40%, and give £100 to LEPRA under Gift Aid, we will (as before) receive a further £28.00, making a total of £128.00. This £128.00 is called the 'gross donation'. As a higher rate tax payer you can claim relief for 18% (40% less basic rate tax 22%) of this on your tax return to the Inland Revenue, which reduces your tax liability by £23.04. So while your donation will have benefitted LEPRA to the tune of £128.00, the cost to you would be only £76.96!

A further enhancement of the Gift Aid system for higher rate tax payers was introduced from 2002/2003. Normally you can claim relief for donations made in the year that your tax return relates. Since this date you can also claim relief for donations made from the end of that year up until the time you send your return to the Inland Revenue.

For example, if you have made Gift Aid donations during the tax year to April 2005 of £500, you are already entitled to personal tax relief of £115.20. If since April 2005, but prior to your submitting your tax return you make further donations of £200, you can offset a further £46.08 against your tax liability for 2004/2005. Please remember, however that if you do claim this relief early you cannot claim it again in your return for 2005/2006.

If you would like more information on 'Gift Aid for the higher rate tax payer' or any other information regarding Gift Aid please contact Ian Gibbons on 01206 216710, alternatively e-mail Ian_Gibbons@lepra.org.uk .

Payroll Giving

• The maximum limit of £1,200 is abolished.

• The government will pay a supplement of 10% on all donations made after April 2000 for a period of three years.

• The Government in conjunction with Charities are to launch a campaign to promote Payroll Giving.

Gifts of Shares

You might hold shares as a result of privatisation or demutualisation that make little difference to you. Alternatively you may hold a tiny portfolio of shares, perhaps received through an inheritance that generate more paperwork than income. In both these cases donating them to LEPRA could make a significant difference to the work we undertake. Gifting shares to LEPRA also has attractive tax advantages. The donor can claim tax relief equal to the market value of the shares on the day the gift is made, together with any associated costs such as broker's fees. The relief is against your income tax for the year. A gift of £1,000 worth of shares to LEPRA from a higher rate tax payer will give them a saving of £400 on their income tax for that year. Additionally the donor would not have to pay any Capital Gains Tax on any increase in the value of shares since they were bought. In theory this could result in a further saving of 40% for a higher rate tax payer.

• Individuals will be able to claim tax relief on the donation of shares to Charities.

• The relief will apply to gifts in whole of the beneficial interest in any shares or securities listed on a recognised stock exchange in the UK or elsewhere.

• This will also apply to shares in Unit Trusts and AIM shares.

Charity Trading

• Charity Trading subsidiaries will not be required to deduct basic rate income tax from their Gift Aid donation to their parent Charity.

• A new income tax relief will be introduced for trading where the expectation is that the turnover will be the lesser of £50,000 and 25% of the charity's gross income.

Fundraising

• VAT exemption on the income from events organised and promoted by charities for the purpose of raising money.

• Charities will be able to conduct up to 15 fundraising events of any one kind in any one location to qualify

• Small scale events such as coffee mornings will not be subject to this restriction providing the gross takings for such events do not exceed £1,000 in any one week.

• Events where more than two nights accommodation is provided are specifically excluded from the exemption.

VAT

• Zero rating on advertising will be extended to all charity advertising, including recruitment advertising, in all media, and covering all advertisement preparation costs.

• Zero rating will also apply to donations of goods by a VAT registered person for hire by a charity or other organisation transferring the profits to charity.

This synopsis of some of the methods that can benefit charities is not intended to be comprehensive. If you would like further details or explanations of any of the matters covered please e-mail Ian Gibbons on ian_gibbons@lepra.org.uk .

The Collection Box

Collection boxes are an invaluable way to help raise money for LEPRA. We are always looking for business premises that would be happy to display one of our collection boxes.

If you would like one of these boxes, then please call 08451 21 21 21 or fill in our information request form.

Helping our projects overseas - Medical volunteer work

If you are a medical specialist with skills which could be directly relevant to addressing a particular problem in the field of leprosy, then we would like to hear from you. Such skills include eye care, foot care, epidemiology, general medical skills. If you think you can help us in one of those areas, then please forward a CV and covering letter to programmes@lepra.org.uk.