FUNDRAISING
ESAB has to raise all its own funds. It receives no help from Government or Statutory Authorities and its valuable work supporting some 1,500 blind and partially sighted people living in the East Suffolk communities relies entirely on financial help from those sympathetic to its cause. The list below shows all the avenues that are pursued to raise funds to cover our work with local people.
Donations/Standing Orders
We often receive donations from our members and supporters which are always much appreciated. Standing orders have also been set up in some cases which are particularly valuable in providing regular income.
Gift Aid
The Association is now able to recover some tax on donations from the Inland Revenue. For every £1 you donate to ESAB, the Inland Revenue will contribute 28p in respect of your gift to ESAB if you are a tax payer. You simply need to sign a declaration stating that you are a tax payer. Please contact the office for this form if you would like to make a Gif Aid donation.
Legacies
Legacies are vital to help ESAB with its work. If you would like to leave ESAB anything in your Will, we promise the money will be well used to help blind and partially sighted people in East Suffolk.
Please contact the office on 01473 611011 where we can give you advice of local solicitors who have offered to help members draw up a Will free of charge.
Street Collections
Many of our 8 social groups carry out street collections to support the Association. We are grateful to the volunteers who help with this.
Shop Collecting Tins
Many local shops, businesses and other organisations display an East Suffolk Association for the Blind green collection box and some people like to keep them in their own home or work place too.
Yellow Boxes
ESAB asks all members, families and friends to use one of our small cardboard collecting boxes at home to use for collecting loose change in. They all add up to a useful contribution.
Sponsorship
Some of our supporters go to great lengths to raise sponsorship money on our behalf. Recent efforts included a sponsor abseil and runners in the London and local Marathons.
Events
A variety of events are organised by local volunteers and staff to raise funds, including garden parties, boot sales, concert evenings, auction of promises, selling cards and coffee mornings.
Charitable Trusts and Grants
We receive regular, and much appreciated support from a small number of Trusts with applications being made to other Trusts and to local grant making bodies throughout the year.
