Latest news
18th June 2013
Personal Independence Payment – further consultation
The Department of Work& Pensions has announced a further consultation on the recently introduced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit
How We Spend Your Money
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 that more of your money goes towards the activities and areas that need support. 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, Dave White, by contacting the Limbless Associatipon office on 01245 216 670, 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 office, or join as a member and view the online version that is filed under your Membership Pack.
How We Spend Your Money FAQs
Set out below are some of the most frequently asked questions about the way the Limbless Association uses the money it receives.
Why do you need to spend money on fundraising?
Fundraising costs ensure that the Limbless Association 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 imperative, 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).
How much of my donations are spent on your Chief Executive / Directors’ salaries?
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.
The Limbless Association 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 Limbless Association free-of-charge.
Why does the Limbless Association have reserves?
Reserves keep us afloat. By way of example, approximately 40% of the Limbless Association 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 set some ‘savings’ aside as a reserve to use during lean times.
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 that, 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.
Why does the Limbless Association need more money?
There are approximately 130,000 amputees in the UK and the Limbless Association 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 Limbless Association is the main UK charity offering free information and support to amputees of any background and age.
How do you spend membership subscriptions?
All membership fees are spent on the administration and benefits of Limbless Association 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.
Examples of What Your Money Could Be Spent On
£1 Limbless Association Poster
£1 can pay for one of our posters to be displayed in a hospital or limb-fitting centre.
£5 Limbless Association Information Pack
£5 can pay for an information pack to be sent to someone who needs support.
£10 Volunteer Visit
£10 can pay for the travelling expenses of a Volunteer Visit.
£25 Limbless Association Outstanding Achievements Awards & Trophies
£25 can pay for a trophy or award for outstanding achievements within the limb-loss community.
£75 A Year of Sports+ Fitness Sessions
£75 can pay for a years fitness session for an amputee with Sport+.
£200 Limbless Association Life Membership
£200 can pay for Life Membership to the Limbless Association.
