BACS launches 2006 Charity Awards

BACS, the company behind Direct Debit and BACS Direct Credit, announces the launch of the 2006 Charity Awards. The awards reward charities proactively promoting and using Direct Debit for regular donations.

[ClickPress, Mon Jun 12 2006] UK charities are being urged to recognise the hard fought efforts of their fundraising teams and participate in the 2006 Direct Debit Charity Awards.

Organised by BACS, the company behind Direct Debit, the 2006 Direct Debit Charity Awards reward charities proactively promoting and using Direct Debit to increase the number of regular, automated donations they receive each year.

This year, the Direct Debit Charity Award scheme has three categories for charities to enter. The first award is for achievement and will be presented to the charity that can demonstrate the largest year-on-year increase in Direct Debit take up. The second accolade is for innovation. Organisations will be judged on the most creative promotion of Direct Debit. The final category looks at best practice and will be awarded to the charity that shows the most significant improvements in customer satisfaction as a direct result of offering Direct Debit as an alternative payment method.

To support the launch of the inaugural Direct Debit Charity Awards in 2005, BACS undertook dedicated research into the charity sector. Findings showed that 52% of all UK charitable donations were made using Direct Debit. Results also highlighted that charities were missing out on up to £400 million a year because Gift Aid was not being used to its full advantage and because almost a third of donors (32%) did not know what Gift Aid was.

Commenting Michael Chambers, managing director of BACS said, “The UK charity industry is increasingly competitive. Fundraising organisations are competing for consumer loyalty on a number of different levels. Identifying new ways to increase the volume, frequency and value of donations is key, as is maximising donor retention. BACS findings clearly show that more can be done to boost the nation’s financial investment in worthwhile causes and ensure Gift Aid is used to full effect.”

Continuing he said, “While BACS findings show that more than half of people regularly donating to charity use Direct Debit, there is a clear opportunity to increase this figure and in tandem, raise consumer awareness of Gift Aid. Many charities are already taking this in hand, actively championing Direct Debit and Gift Aid together. Last year an encouraging number of charities took the opportunity to enter our awards programme and publicise the outcome of Direct Debit-related projects. We look forward to seeing the continued increase of Direct Debit usage in the charity sector and to championing best practice in conjunction with some the nation’s best loved charities.”

Successful charities that win a 2006 Direct Debit Charity Award will be presented with a trophy at the Third Sector Forum on 8 November 2006. The event takes place at the Oxford Belfry, Oxford. Each participating charity will also be entered into the Direct Debit Charity Awards Prize Draw giving them the chance to win a £1000 donation to help boost the balance of their charitable organisation. The closing date for all entries is 31 August 2006. All forms must be received by this date to be eligible to enter. For more information go to: www.bacs.co.uk/directdebit/events

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About BACS Payment Schemes Ltd (BACS):

BACS has been at the forefront of delivering efficient, reliable and secure electronic funds transfers between banks and businesses for almost 40 years.

As a membership-based 'not-for-profit' industry body, owned by some of the UK and Europe’s leading banks and building societies, BACS develops, enhances and promotes the use and integrity of automated payments and payment related services.

Through its two principal electronic payment services, Direct Debit and BACS Direct Credit, it is responsible for the processing of more than 5.1 billion financial transactions a year, with in excess of 75 million payments on a peak day.

BACS’ success is based on its ability to improve technology for the benefit of banks, businesses and consumers. Since 1 January, payment files are delivered via BACSTEL-IP, a new delivery channel developed in response to the rapidly growing demand for electronic payment services. It provides businesses with the highest level of security in payment submissions, even faster payment confirmation and the ability to track the status of payments online. For further information please visit www.bacs.co.uk.

More about Direct Debit:

Approximately 15,000 organisations currently choose Direct Debit as the simplest, safest and most cost effective way to collect regular or occasional payments from their customers - both business and consumers.

A Direct Debit is an instruction from a customer to their bank or building society authorising an organisation to collect varying amounts from their account, as long as the customer has been given advance notice of the collection amounts and dates. This can be used to ensure regular, safe and efficient payments of anything from household bills to charitable donations. For further information please contact: Natalie Yates or Kim Bithel on 01223 558 601 / 07714766106 or natalie.yates@war.uk.com / kim.bithel@war.uk.com

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