engage press releases

February 2006


Charity givers are as good as gold

Payroll Giving Gold Award Staff at engage Mutual Assurance in Harrogate have been recognised for their generosity with a prestigious Gold Payroll Giving Quality Mark. Awarded by HM Government, the symbol of excellence recognises and rewards those who commit to raising money regularly for good causes by making charitable contributions direct from their salaries. The scheme has already raised £83 million nationally with a target of £100 million set by Treasury Minister Ivan Lewis for the coming year and engage was one of the few organisations to meet the criteria for the top award, based on the number of employees signed up to the payroll giving scheme.

Steve Barry, engage’s HR Manager congratulated the recipients; “Our staff are generous with their time, money and energy; but payroll giving has a remarkable impact on charities because regular giving generates a reliable income and therefore a better opportunity for these organisations to plan their activities. Plus, the money is deducted before income tax is paid, meaning donations are tax-free.”

Donations can be deducted on a weekly or monthly basis from and employee’s pay before tax, so giving £10 a month costs a basic rate taxpayer only £7.80 because they save £2.20 tax. For a higher rate taxpayer the cost is only £6 because they save £4 tax.

Ivan Lewis MP, Economic Secretary to HM Treasury, set a challenge to Yorkshire businesses and their employees, saying: "Payroll Giving is something that every organisation can get involved in, whatever its size. This innovative new scheme, funded by government, aims to encourage more employers to foster a culture of giving in the workplace by making tax-effective payroll donations available to their employees. Payroll Giving is good for business and a real benefit to offer employees. I hope that the coming financial year will be a record year of donations raising in excess of £100 million for good causes."

Steve Barry accepted the award on behalf of the staff at a ceremony in London, where organisations such as BT, Michelin Tyres, Legal and General and Rolls Royce were also commended. engage Mutual Assurance will now be able to display the award logo on the intranet, company literature and website.

-ENDS-

Zoe Bowett PR Manager

01423 855 315
07957 434 504

zoe.bowett@engagemutual.com

NOTES TO EDITORS
  1. engage Mutual Assurance is a trading style of Homeowners Friendly Society (HFSL) and it’s wholly-owned subsidiary engage Mutual Funds Limited (eMFL).
  2. engage Mutual Funds Limited (eMFL) is a provider of the Child Trust Fund direct and in partnership with Legal and General, ASDA and Debenhams stores and NAAFI Financial.
  3. The organisation is also the primary sponsor of the Rugby Super League – now renamed engage Super League.
  4. engage Mutual Assurance is also headline sponsor of the engage International Open 2005, part of the World Bowls Tour.
  5. Established in 1980, Homeowners Friendly Society Limited (HFSL) is Registered and Incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, Reg.No.964F, its wholly owned subsidiary engage Mutual Funds Limited (eMFL) is Registered in England No 3224780. Both are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Homeowners Friendly Society Limited's FSA Register number is 110072, and engage Mutual Funds Limited’s FSA Register number is 181487. You can check this on the FSA's Register by visiting the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234


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