With community generosity being so important, the Denstone Foundation was established to facilitate giving and to support Denstone College so that it continues to thrive into the future.
As we approach our 150th year in 2023, we are committed to ensuring that the excellent education provided by Denstone College continues to grow for the next 150 years. We can do this by ensuring that we do everything possible to increase accessibility to the college by offering transformational bursaries to benefit pupils whose parents may otherwise not be able to afford us.
Over the years, many Old Denstonians have benefited from financial assistance given by generous donors - and members of our community have been inspired to give back when the time is right for them.
Gifts from Alumni and their families have been responsible for opening accessibility to the College through our Bursary scheme, and have also been responsible for the continuous developing of facilities. This includes the Sports Hall, the Drive Astroturf, the Threlfall Library, and the Roper Music School as well as more recent support for the move of Denstone College Preparatory School onto the Denstone College site in September 2021. This will not only give the younger pupils the fantastic advantage of the additional space, facilities and expertise that the College has to offer, but it will also protect and strengthen the foundations of the College as a whole.
There are several ways you can support the Foundation; some donors contribute to its general financial strength, others more specifically target a particular purpose. All gifts, no matter the size, make a difference.
How Can You Help?
There are many ways in which you can make a donation, and there are also several ways of enhancing the value of your donation.
A Simple Donation
You may choose simply to make a donation, and of course your generosity will be much appreciated. However, if you are a UK tax payer, please consider gift aid.
Gift and Payment
If you are a UK tax payer, we can claim the tax back on any donation under the Get Britain Giving charity regulations, currently 28p for every £1 you give. This means that for every £200 given to the Foundation, we can reclaim £56 from the Inland Revenue – making your contribution worth £256.
Standing Order
You could arrange a Standing Order payment to the Foundation. Payments can be made monthly, quarterly or annually. For example a covenant of just £20 per month for a period of 4 years would produce an income of £1,229 after we had reclaimed the tax back.
Gifts of Stocks and Shares
Gifts of publicly quoted shares are a tax-efficient way for both individuals and companies to help support the Denstone Foundation. When donors give shares to the Denstone Foundation they can get substantial relief on their income tax bill, as well as exemption from Capital Gains Tax on any gains they may have made on the shares. With the higher rates of Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax currently at 40-45%, this can amount to a substantial tax break and all the tax relief goes to the donor.
Payroll Giving Scheme
This is a tax efficient way for individuals to support the Denstone Foundation. Donors can ask their employer to make a regular donation on their behalf before calculating PAYE tax. This way donors automatically receive tax relief at the top rate. If you wish to donate through the Payroll Giving Scheme please contact your payroll department.
Tax Repayments
Since April, 2004, individuals who complete a Self-Assessment Tax Return can nominate a charity to receive all or part of any repayment due to them by completing a section on the tax return and stating the code of the chosen charity. Our registered charity number is 1102588.
Company Gifts
Gifts from companies and partnerships can be made tax-efficient. Companies can claim Corporation Tax on all donations to the Denstone Foundation. When a company gives to the Denstone Foundation, the value of the gift can be offset against the company's highest rate of Corporation Tax. Company gifts can be made on a regular or one-off basis.
Legacies
Letting us know that you have left a gift to the Denstone Foundation by bequest is one of the most welcome philanthropic gifts you can make. It gives the College the opportunity to honour and thank you in your lifetime and to keep your connection with Denstone in perpetuity. Those who contribute to the future of Denstone through a bequest, or indicate that they have included Denstone in their Will, will be invited to become members of The Denstone 1868 Society, named after the year of the laying of the foundation stone at College.
For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact the Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Jess Smith at [email protected] or by phone on 01889 590484.
