The Prime Minister has expressed his support for Payroll Giving as the scheme celebrates its 25th year.
A giant card was delivered to 10 Downing Street by the Association of Payroll Giving Organisations (APGO) to mark the occasion and thank its supporters.
“The amount of money that people give to charities in this country is a testament to the generosity of the British people,” commented David Cameron. “Payroll Giving is a great idea because it makes giving easier and a normal part of life. I celebrate the £1.2 billion raised for charities by Payroll Giving over the last 25 years, and I want to ensure that it is made even easier and more compelling.”
The initiative enables individuals to donate money directly to charity from their wages. By 2017, the APGO aims to double the number of organisations offering the scheme in order to provide more charities and beneficiaries with a regular and reliable source of income.
Liz Davies, representative of the APGO, said: “The amount raised for charities is a marvellous achievement, both by companies that offer Payroll Giving, and their wonderfully generous employees who recognise the value of sustained giving from their payroll, tax free, to charity.”