All the money we receive is spent on UK projects and services.
We will always try to ensure operating costs are kept to a minimum, so more of your money goes towards the activities and areas that need support and we will constantly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and value of our projects to ensure your contribution goes as far as possible.
If you are supporting a specific project or donating a significant amount you can also request progress reports from our Fundraising and Events Officer, Maria Jones, by contacting the LA Office, so you can monitor your contribution and see how your donations are positively affecting lives.
If you wish to receive our Annual Statement of Accounts you can either order a hardcopy from the LA Office, or join as a member and view the online version from your Membership Pack.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the way the LA uses the money it receives.
Q. Why do you need to spend money on fundraising?
Q. How much of my donations are spent on your Chief Executive / Directors' salaries?
Q. Why does LA have reserves?
Q. Why does LA need more money?
Q. How do you spend membership subscriptions?
Q. Why do you need to spend money on fundraising?
A. Fundraising costs ensure that the LA can raise the necessary funds required to continue our work. To generate funding it is necessary to spend money communicating with potential or existing supporters, either by introducing them to our cause or reminding them how much we need their help. Such communications are impetrative, as most donors wish to be engaged so they do not feel taken advantage of for their generosity. There are many competing demands for the money people have to donate, so if we do not communicate with our donors then our cause will be considered less-pressing and we may lose their support.
We try to encourage different forms of funding, as we do not want to rely on a few sources. Should a source decide to put their support elsewhere we will not be in such a difficult situation. This is why we have our reserves policy (please see below for further details).
Q. How much of my donations are spent on your Chief Executive / Directors' salaries?
A. We don't set our staff salaries as a percentage of income. Salaries are part of our support costs. We need professional staff to ensure our work is of a high-standard and we need high-calibre employees who can lead the charity and be paid appropriately for their effectiveness.
LA has the same need for professionalism and effective management structures as any other organisation in the private or public sector. In order to attract the calibre of staff needed to do this it is necessary to pay staff at a level commensurate with their responsibility. However, employees of charities are not paid as highly as their equivalents in most private sector organisations and all of our trustees give their time and services to the LA free-of-charge.
Q. Why does LA have reserves?
A. Reserves keep the LA afloat. Approximately 40% of LA's 2008 income came from voluntary donations from members of the public. Although we fundraise in a number of different ways, this remains a potentially vulnerable source of income. In order to protect ourselves against a fall in the level of these donations (either from a declining economic climate, or from unsuccessful fundraising activity) we keep some ‘savings' to use during lean times (called ‘reserves').
Reserves also enable us to meet emergencies. Currently our level of reserves is set at nine months of our running costs, not including our commitment to our research projects. This means if our income dried up completely tomorrow we would be able to continue operating our services for a further year until the income situation was rectified.
We are required by law to have a reserves policy, which outlines why we need reserves. Without a reserves policy, our trustees would not be confident that our reserves level matches the charity's needs at any time.
Q. Why does LA need more money?
A. There are approximately 130,000 amputees in the UK and the LA has become an increasingly active and well-regarded association amongst this community, providing a valuable resource for amputees, healthcare professionals, carers and family and friends alike.
We run many programs that are unique to our organisation such as our Sports+ , and our Outreach Program which co-ordinates our prominent Volunteer Visitors Network. This Network consists of a group of our members who, using their knowledge and experience as amputees, support and encourage people awaiting amputation or amputees experiencing difficulties since their operation. The LA is the main UK charity offering free information and support to amputees of any background and age.
Q. How do you spend membership subscriptions?
A. All membership fees are spent on the administration and benefits of LA membership. However, the cost of managing the membership database, communicating with members and producing and posting copies of Step Forward currently exceeds the total amount we receive in membership subscriptions, so as a charity we must raise further funding from other sources to cover these costs.
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£1 can pay for a LA poster to be displayed in a hospital or limb-fitting centre. |
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£5 can pay for a LA information pack for someone who needs support. |
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£10 can pay for the travelling expenses of a Volunteer Visit. |
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£25 can pay for a LA trophy or award for outstanding achievements within the limb-loss community. |
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£75 can pay for a years fitness session for an amputee with Sport+ |
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£200 can pay for Life Membership to the LA. |