FAQs

How can I donate money?
The simplest ways to make a donation are through the Donate Online section of the website, by downloading a Donation Form or by calling our fundraising team on 01242 515157. Alternatively, have a look at our Payroll Giving scheme, a tax effective way to make a regular donation to Winston’s Wish. Also be sure to look out for our blue and white collection tins in shops, pubs, restaurants and other venues around the county.

Are there other ways that I can get involved with Winston’s Wish?
Yes, Winston's Wish is always looking for volunteers to help us in supporting bereaved children and their families. Volunteers can get involved with:
· Residential groups
· Fundraising activities
· Administrative work in the Cheltenham (Gloucestershire) office & in our Horsham (West  Sussex) office
· Spreading the word about the invaluable work carried out by Winston's Wish

Check out the Volunteering section of the website for more details on how you can get involved today.

How can I raise awareness of the work of Winston’s Wish in my local area?
The main thing you can do is let people in need know about the Helpline service. Contacting the Winston's Wish Helpline on 08452 03 04 05 is the first step to getting the most out of the services we provide for bereaved children and their parents/carers. Winston's Wish began as a small local charity, and we still believe that working with local communities is one of the most effective ways of getting our message across.

How can I keep track of events that Winston’s Wish is hosting/associated with?
The Support Us section on the website contains information on all the events we are hosting, including a calendar and details of a variety of sponsored challenges in the UK and abroad. Our newsletters also contain information on all upcoming events.

How can I organise an event?
The ‘Fundraising Tips & Advice’ section of the website is a good place to start if you are thinking about organising your own event in support of Winston’s Wish. If you need further help or advice, call our Community Fundraising team on 01242 515157.

What resources are available if I want to get involved in fundraising?
If you are thinking of organising an event in support of Winston’s Wish we can help you in several ways. A large amount of fundraising tools such as sponsorship forms can be downloaded straight from our website. Also, if you are planning a sponsored event, we suggest setting up an account at www.justgiving.com. This site makes it easier for you to organise sponsorship, and for our fundraising team to keep track of how you are getting on.

We can also provide fundraising packs, Winston’s Wish t-shirts, large banners, collection tins and buckets, and a variety of other items to help make your event a success. For more information on what is available, call our Community Fundraising team on 01242 515157.

How does Gift Aid work and how does it help Winston’s Wish?
UK charities are entitled to a 28% tax reclaim from the Inland Revenue on every £1 donated by UK taxpayers. But often charities miss out on this because they are unable to prove that donors are registered taxpayers. Gift Aid is a simple way for charities such as Winston’s Wish to reclaim this tax payment.

If you use one of our official Sponsor Forms, you will notice the Gift Aid column on the right. Ticking this box confirms that the sponsor is a registered UK taxpayer, increasing the value of the donation by 28%, at no additional cost to the donor. For example, if you give £100 we can reclaim an extra £28. However, in order for us to reclaim the tax payment, you must return the form along with the money you have collected.

More information of Gift Aid can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/giftaid-charities/how.htm

Can a speaker from Winston’s Wish give a talk at my school/community group etc?
One of the main ways in which Winston’s Wish reaches the people who need our services is through schools and community organisations. We would really like to come and speak to your group, but it does depend on your location and the availability of our speakers. If you want more information or would like a member of the Winston's Wish team to speak at your event, please call the office on 01242 515157 or email info@winstonswish.org.uk

There are a large number of charities that focus on children, what sets Winston’s Wish apart?
Winston's Wish is the primary child bereavement charity in the UK. We are both the largest and longest established organisation of this kind in Europe. We specialise in cases where the child has lost a parent, carer or sibling. Because helping children to express and overcome their grief has been our sole aim since 1992, we have the skills, expertise and resources to provide children and their families with an unrivalled service.

How is the charity funded?
Winston's Wish is funded by a variety of methods. Special funds, such as our work with children bereaved by murder or manslaughter, come primarily from a number of grants, the most significant being Government funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families and The Openwork Foundation. However a vast majority of our funding is through fundraising work with companies such as Williams Lea, community organisations and the general public. Every donation, no matter what size, is vital in allowing us to continue and develop the services we provide for bereaved children and their families.

How is the money raised by Winston’s Wish spent?
Below are some examples of how generous donations could be used to help grieving children and their families:

• £1,000 – covers comprehensive phone support from a professionally trained family practitioner for 15 families in the 6 months leading up to a residential weekend.
• £2,000 – allows us to recruit and train 15 volunteers to support bereaved children and young people on our residential weekends.
• £3,000 – funds 2 children to attend a residential weekend for children bereaved through suicide. The service provided includes face-to-face assessment time with the children and their families, before and after the weekend, from trained professionals.
• £4,000 – covers the total cost of our work with bereaved pre-school children for an entire year.
• £5,000 – helps us promote our services to schools for an entire year. This programme allows us to reach more children and helps teachers to better support bereaved pupils.

If you have any questions that are not answered above, why not contact us using the on-line question form available here.