BY Bridget Orr | April 2 | 
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Seafarers’ charity warns Budget puts its services at risk
A leading charity is warning that recent Government Budget proposals will affect their services.
The Apostleship of the Sea, originally founded in Glasgow, provides pastoral and practical support to seafarers visiting the UK and is wholly reliant on voluntary donations, grants and legacies. These would be affected by the proposals laid out last month that include a limit on tax relief on donations over £50,000 or over 25 per cent of income, proposals that could also lead to basic rate Gift Aid for these donations being withdrawn.
“At a time when costs are rising and demand for the services of Catholic charities is increasing, every penny is needed,” John Green, Apostleship of the Sea’s head of fundraising, said.
Mr Green also warned that the proposed changes would further impact on the charity sector, that lost tens of thousands of jobs as a result of Government grants and contracts cut during the recession.
“Every year Catholic charities in the UK direct hundreds of millions of pounds of donations to the most needy in our society, often using the Church’s own network of parishes, clergy and volunteers, making our work particularly effective,” he said.
“[But] government tax relief for significant donations remains critical to helping the needy as the impact of the recession continues to be felt.”
Pic: Chancellor George Osborne on Budget day
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