Charities are calling on the Government to implement changes to tax laws to help them through the current economic difficulties. Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive of Save the Children, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme those in power could help third-sector organisations save £500 million a year by exempting them from VAT. She added that changes to the rules of gift aid from an opting-in scheme to an opt-out one will also benefit charities by providing an extra income stream. Ms Whitbread added third-sector organisations are having to plan on less money during a particularly difficult time when people are asking for more help. “Income is down already and, more importantly, we can see that it is going to be down for all charities next year and possibly longer … charities have got together and gone to [the] Government and we have been talking about what could be done,” she told the news programme.

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30 December 2008
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