WIREDGOV

£6 million boost for charities over three years

HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS News Release (NAT 37/08) issued by The Government News Network on 14 August 2008

Voluntary and community sector organisations will receive £6 million in funding for the next three years from HM Revenue & Customs to help people get the right benefits and tax.

Fifty-seven organisations have received awards for 2008/2009, 21 of which received a boost for multi-year funded projects.

Head of HMRCs Third Sector Team, Derek Tilstone said:

"This money will fund organisations that work with the vulnerable in society, helping them claim the right benefits, like tax credits that they are entitled to.

"These organisations provide a safety net for people who do not normally come to HMRC for help and advice. Their work is vital because it makes customers aware of our products, provides extra help with tax issues and brings customers back into direct contact with HMRC."

In 2008/9, HMRC extended its funding programme to include: third sector organisations, social enterprises, cooperatives and both large and small mutuals, in addition to voluntary and community organisations, and charities.

HMRC will be announcing its new funding round in October 2008.

Notes for editors

1. HMRC announced its 2008-2009 funding programme on the internet in November 2007 and invited Third Sector organisations to apply for a GIA award. A list of the successful organisations, details of their projects and amount of award can be found at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vcs/guidance0809.htm. This is the first time HMRC has published financial information.

2. Funding aims:
HMRC is in the second year of its multi year funding commitment. In two years time we would expect that Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC) GIA funding programme will have contributed to:

* Helping HMRC to increase take up of Tax Credits and other HMRC products

* Helping significantly more hard to reach and vulnerable customers to get the right entitlements and pay the right amount of tax;

* Improving the customer experience for those hard to reach and vulnerable customers;

* Helping HMRC to gain a better understanding of those customers who use the third sector; and

* Helping HMRC to identify and reduce barriers to our hard to reach and vulnerable customers getting the right entitlements, paying the right amount of tax and having a customer experience that encourages direct contact with HMRC.

For further information, please see the HMRC website address

Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
Website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk