I've funded school in India now want to start charity

A question about : I've funded school in India now want to start charity

Hello all,

I have funded a new school in India, and now pay Ј220 per month to cover electricity, teachers, and rent.

the school has been open for six months and they have just sat their half-year exams (the school year is not the same as in the UK. This is in Madhya Pradesh). I have a stream of photos of happy kids coming through.

This is a huge commitment for me alone. I want to bring in others to help and also do some charity challenges to raise funds...

Firstly I need under Ј5000 per year, so I can't register as a charity here. Secondly the school is in India and essentially my role is just to find funding, so I can't easily claim the charity is based in the EU as required by Gift Aid registration (as I understand it)

I am stuck! I want to open up the possibility of donations but I can't use Justgiving or any other sites like that as they require either Registered Charity status or Gift Aid. It's hard to gain people's trust if I have neither.

Any, any, guidance is warmly received!

Best answers:

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• Here it says if you have under Ј5000, you can apply to a different scheme to get charity tax breaks and claim gift aid.
  https://www.gov.uk/how-to-register-your-charity-cc21b
  Perhaps contact Oxfam as they might be able to advise you how to proceed.
• India is the worlds tenth largest economy and set to over take the UK in 2016 in GDP.
  Why do they need charity to pay the school electric bill ?
• Probably same reason as to why Britain has food banks.
• The UK Govt spent just under Ј3 BILLION on a programme to overhaul education in Madhya Pradesh, between 2008-2013. There are other current programmes, perhaps OP can point the school in the direction of existing help in-country.
• Hi,
  My daughter's school are using www.cash4coins.co.uk. The school are collecting foreign currency and then Cash4Coins buy it back from them. They were recently listed as a trusted PTA supplier. The collection box is quite full with foreign currency. Speaking to the head teacher he said it has been received well with parents.
  You might want to get in touch with them
  Thanks
• look into setting up a CIO - charitable incorporated organisation - there's no minimum income and you'll have a charity number. you will need at least three volunteer board members willing to run the org. see charity commission website for guidance or find your local CVS