Does Gift Aid work differently in Scotland?

No. Gift Aid and the Small Donations Scheme are run by HMRC across the UK, so claims work the same way.

We worship in more than one building. Can each one count?

Yes. Add each building in Gift Aid settings, at no extra cost. Each one can count for up to £8,000 of Small Donations Scheme gifts collected there.

Are Scottish churches excepted from registering?

No. The excepted arrangement only applies in England and Wales. Scottish charities, including churches, register with OSCR.

Does it record PVG checks?

Yes. Choose Scotland when you sign up, and the safeguarding area records PVG membership and Basic disclosures instead of DBS checks.

Membership Software for Churches in Scotland

Keep your roll, pastoral care and giving in one place your session clerk, treasurer and office can share. Gift Aid works the same across the UK.

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PVG checks recorded
Gift Aid on HMRC’s spreadsheet
From £12 a month

Built for the kirk session and the congregation

The rolls: Keep your Communion Roll and Adherents’ Roll apart. The roll review takes the Kirk Session through its yearly check, name by name.
Elders’ districts: Give each elder a group of people to care for, with private notes only the right people can read.
Safeguarding: Record PVG membership and Basic disclosures, seen only by your Safeguarding Coordinator and named leads. PVG renewals are set five years ahead.
OSCR: Scottish charities register with OSCR. The software’s reports help with your annual figures.

Elders’ districts made simple

Make a group for each elder’s district, so elders see their own people and can keep in touch, with a register for any meetings.

The Tuesday Bible study group page, listing nine members with their contact details and how many of the last 12 meetings each came to, beside a list of recent meetings. — Open a larger view (opens in a new tab)

Gift Aid works the same in Scotland

Gift Aid and the Small Donations Scheme are UK-wide. Record envelopes, standing orders and plate cash, and claim on HMRC’s own spreadsheet.

A finished Gift Aid claim with 22 lines, each showing the giver’s name, house number, postcode, date and amount. Links download HMRC’s spreadsheet, a LibreOffice version or a CSV file. The amounts box shows £2,972.19 expected and received. — Open a larger view (opens in a new tab)

What it doesn’t do

It doesn’t carry out PVG checks or disclosures. Those go through Disclosure Scotland or your church’s safeguarding service, and you record the result here.

It doesn’t submit your OSCR return or presbytery figures for you.

Questions churches ask

Does Gift Aid work differently in Scotland?: No. Gift Aid and the Small Donations Scheme are run by HMRC across the UK, so claims work the same way.
We worship in more than one building. Can each one count?: Yes. Add each building in Gift Aid settings, at no extra cost. Each one can count for up to £8,000 of Small Donations Scheme gifts collected there.
Are Scottish churches excepted from registering?: No. The excepted arrangement only applies in England and Wales. Scottish charities, including churches, register with OSCR.
Does it record PVG checks?: Yes. Choose Scotland when you sign up, and the safeguarding area records PVG membership and Basic disclosures instead of DBS checks.

Sources

Try it with your congregation for 30 days

Start a free trial with no card needed. Bring your roll across and see how it fits.

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