As a small charity with big ambitions, Heartburn Cancer UK depends on every penny to make a real difference to oesophageal cancer survival and improve awareness about the dangers of persistent heartburn and Barrett’s oesophagus. Gift Aid is one of the most effective tools available to multiply the impact of your donation – at no extra cost to you.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a UK government tax relief that allows charities to claim an extra 25% on top of a donation from eligible UK taxpayers. That means that a £10 donation becomes £12.50.
For basic-rate taxpayers, the increase is automatic when you tick the Gift Aid box. For higher and additional rate taxpayers can further claim extra relief through their Self-Assessment.
Why Gift Aid Matters – Especially to Small Charities such as Heartburn Cancer UK
Gift Aid is worth £1.6 billion to UK charities in 2023–24 according to HMRC, and whilst over 50% of charities benefit from Gift Aid, nearly a quarter of donations that are eligible yet not claimed, and an estimated £560 million in potential Gift Aid goes unclaimed each year, remaining with the Exchequer rather than charitable causes.
For a small charity like ours, every unclaimed £1 matters. These funds could cover essential awareness campaigns, patient support resources, or early diagnosis initiatives.
Why So Many Don’t Tick It
Recent research from the Charities Aid Foundation reveals that although more than 80% of people believe Gift Aid is important, only about half always tick the box – often because they forget, aren’t offered the option, or use cash.
Our Ask: Please Tick the Box!
With the cost-of-living squeeze and declining donations, many charities – including HCUK – are currently under serious pressure. The combination of less income against the growing need for our services highlights more than ever that every pound counts, so ticking Gift Aid on your donation genuinely makes a big difference.
If you’re eligible, ticking the Gift Aid box when donating to Heartburn Cancer UK is a simple action that makes your gift go further:
- Transforms a £20 donation into £25
- Adds enough to fund key materials or educational events
- Multiplies across many supporters to fuel awareness and support
Gift Aid is free for you and powerful for us. If you’re a UK taxpayer, please remember to tick the Gift Aid box – so together, we can continue to raise awareness, educate communities, and support those affected by oesophageal cancer.
You Make a Difference
Thank you to everyone who supports Heartburn Cancer UK. As a small charity, every donation – no matter the size – helps us advance our mission to raise awareness of persistent heartburn, Barrett’s oesophagus, and oesophageal cancer, and to support patients and families when they need it most.
We’re especially grateful to those who tick the Gift Aid box. Your simple choice allows us to claim an additional 25% on your donation at no extra cost to you. That extra funding goes straight into our campaigns, resources, and early-diagnosis initiatives. We appreciate your generosity and trust in our work – thank you for making every penny count.
A Message from our COO
“Here at Heartburn Cancer UK, we are fortunate to have some really dedicated and loyal supporters, and we are thankful for every one of them. However, it’s important we try and make the most of every penny we can, particularly when the charity sector is facing financial challenges. If you are able to tick the Gift Aid box it would really help make a difference.”
