In this section, you can find the answers to the questions most frequently asked by our supporters.
If you have any further questions about donating that aren't answered here, please call the Supporter Relations Team on 0300 330 0740.
You can also email supporter.relations@stroke.org.uk or alternatively Live Chat with a member of the Supporter Relations team by clicking on the icon below. Our Live Chat terms of use can be found here.
Live Chat is open between 10.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
On this page:
Pay in donations
Regular donations and direct debits
Donations in memory/Donations in celebration
Pay in fundraising money
Update your details
Appeals for donations
Gift aid
Other frequently asked questions
Pay in donations
What telephone number should I call to make a donation?
Call our Supporter Relations team on 0300 330 0740. The line is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Messages can be left outside office hours and a member of our Supporter Relations team will call you back as soon as they are available.
Who should I make cheques payable and where do I send them?
Please make your cheque payable to "Stroke Association" and send it together with a covering letter including your name and address, to enable us to send a personal thank you, to:
Supporter Relations Team
Stroke Association
1 Sterling Business Park
Salthouse Road
Northampton
NN4 7EX
If you have any further questions please get in touch:
By telephone: 0300 330 0740 (Mon-Fri 9-5)
- By email: supporter.relations@stroke.org.uk
Can I send cash in the post?
We ask people not to send us cash through the post, as there's a risk of it getting lost along the way. There are a number of ways you can pay:
You can either:
- Telephone us on 0300 330 0740 and pay using your debit card or credit card.
- Transfer it via your bank account using the following bank details:
Account number: 73083772
- Sort code: 20 00 00
Please make sure to use your unique reference number when you make the payment from your bank account. This enables us to send a personal thank you. If you’re not sure what your unique reference number is, please phone our Supporter Relations team on 0300 330 0740 and they will advise you.
How do I make an online donation?
Please visit our donations page to make an online donation.
Is making an online donation by credit card secure?
We are committed to protecting your privacy and the security of the data that you provide to us. Please visit our privacy policy to find out about the measures that we take to do this.
When you make an online donation on our website your web browser connects to a secure server and any personal information that you enter is 'encrypted' before being sent to our card payment processor, WorldPay, which holds your information in an equally secure way according to industry standard practices.
Regular donations and direct debits
Why do you prefer people to make regular gifts rather than one-off donations?
Regular gifts enable us to plan our work in advance. By giving a small amount on a regular basis, you give us the confidence to commit to long-term projects, knowing that we will have the funds available to support them into the future. Your monthly donations may seem like a small amount but this form of ongoing support really is the most effective way of supporting us.
In terms of benefits for you, the donor, giving on a regular basis allows you to budget your support. You're able to spread the cost over a long period, paying smaller amounts on a monthly basis, but still significantly contributing to our vital work.
If you would specifically like to set up a regular gift in memory of a loved one please visit our Remembrance Fund website.
To set up a direct debit online please visit our donation page and choose regular donation.
Kindly note that due to processing costs, the minimum regular donation we can accept is £1.
Can I set up a direct debit online?
If you would like to set up a direct debit, please visit our donation page. You can also set up a direct debit by calling us on 0300 330 0740.
Why should I set up a direct debit and not a standing order?
Direct debits involve less administration and are therefore a much more cost-effective method of giving. They also give you the flexibility to change the value of your gift over the phone, for example, without having to complete a new form.
Can I change my regular payments from standing order to direct debit?
Yes. To make this change simply call our Supporter Relations team on 0300 330 0740 to set up a direct debit over the phone, and cancel your standing order directly with your bank.
Donations in memory/Donations in celebration
Can I make a donation in memory of someone?
Many people feel that giving a donation to us in memory of a loved one, or in lieu of flowers at a funeral, is a positive way to remember them and pay tribute to their life. If you would like to make this kind of donation please visit our Give in memory page. Alternatively, you can make a donation over the phone by calling 0300 330 0740.
Many families take comfort in setting up a Tribute Fund in memory of a loved one. A Tribute Fund is an online space to share stories, memories, photos and videos of your loved one whilst raising life-changing funds in their memory.
To find out more about fundraising in your loved one’s memory, visit our In Memory fundraising page.
Can I give a gift in lieu of presents on a special day?
Yes. To make a donation in celebration of a special day, please visit our donations in celebration page. Alternatively, you can send us your donation or make a donation over the phone by calling us on 0300 330 0740.
Pay in fundraising money
How can I pay in fundraising money?
There are three ways that you can send in your fundraising money. Visit our paying in your fundraising. page to find out more information.
Update your details
How do I inform you of a change of address?
Please phone us on 0300 330 0740 or you can write to us:
Supporter Relations
Stroke Association
1 Sterling Business Park
Salthouse Road
Northampton
NN4 7EX
You'll need to provide your name, your previous address, your new address and your supporter reference number (if you know it). Please make sure that you include your postcode.
How do I inform you if my bank details have changed?
Please phone us on 0300 330 0740 to let us know that your bank details have changed.
Appeals for donations
Why do you send out letters asking for donations?
Direct mail is an effective method of fundraising and is the cheapest way for charities to get donations from large numbers of people.
We don't expect all of our supporters to give to every appeal, they may receive four appeals a year but only choose to give to one of them.
However, as well as raising money, our appeal letters are designed to be informative, and many of our supporters enjoy receiving them in order to get updates on our work.
Why do you ask for specific amounts of money in your appeals?
Many supporters like to be given an idea about what their donation would be able to fund. We, therefore, ask for specific amounts to act as a guide for you to decide how much to give.
Are the people who feature in your appeals real people?
Yes. We always use real-life case studies. People we've helped are keen to tell others about their experiences.
Why do you send appeals to people who may have been affected by stroke themselves?
We send appeals to people who have been affected by stroke because these people are likely to fully appreciate the impact of stroke and the work that we do. Many of them want to help a cause that they have personal experience of and it is for this reason that they make up a significant proportion of our supporter network. They have often received help from us and want to donate to appeals in order to help people who are living through similar experiences.
Why do you send appeal letters to people that have a direct debit?
We continue to send people information about our work once they have set up a direct debit as many people feel able, and want, to support our work with additional gifts. Particularly at certain times of the year such as Christmas.
Why do you use telephone fundraising?
Telephone fundraising is a cost-effective method of fundraising that enables us to develop personal relationships with our donors, and gives our supporters the opportunity to ask questions. We have an in-house telemarketing team who carry out our telephone fundraising campaigns. Our telemarketing executives are well informed about our work, and successfully raise valuable funds as a result.
Why do you spend money on things like mailshots and inserts in magazines?
We do this to expand our database of supporters. Mailshots and inserts in publications potentially enable us to reach millions of people, the majority of which have no previous association with us. We're therefore able to engage brand new supporters who are likely to support us long into the future. We cannot rely solely on our existing supporters to fund our work, so this form of fundraising really is vital in order to ensure that we're able to raise the necessary funds to support our work in the long term.
Gift aid
How do I change the amount of my regular gift?
If you pay your gift by direct debit, please phone us on 0300 330 0740 or you can write to us:
Supporter Relations
Stroke Association
1 Sterling Business Park
Salthouse Road
Northampton
NN4 7EX
You'll need to provide us with your name, address (including your postcode) and your supporter reference number if you know it. Please let us know the new amount that you would like to give and the date that you'd like us to start collecting the new amount.
If you pay your gift by standing order you will need to write directly to your bank to change the amount of your regular gift, but please also let us know that you've done this.
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a Government scheme that allows charities to reclaim tax on donations made by a UK taxpayer. This means if you Gift Aid your donations they will be worth 25% more to the Stroke Association, at no extra cost to you.
Why does Gift Aid matter?
Gift Aid means we receive an extra 25p in every £1 donated. If each of our supporters ticks 'Yes' to Gift Aid, it would raise our income by 25%. This means we could invest in more of the very latest life-saving research and fund more support services. Helping even more stroke survivors and their families to rebuild their lives. This is all possible at no extra cost to supporters like you.
Can I Gift Aid?
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can Gift Aid your donations. You do not have to be in full-time employment to Gift Aid your donations. You can still Gift Aid if you are on a pension or self-employed, as long as you have paid enough tax during the year to cover the amount we reclaim on your donations. Please note that VAT and council tax do not count.
Will Gift Aid change my tax status?
No, Gift Aid will not change your tax status or cause any additional costs to you.
What if I pay tax at a higher rate?
If you are a higher rate taxpayer, we can reclaim the basic rate of tax on your donations, this is 25p for every £1 you donate. If you would like to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code. Any difference you receive back can always be donated.
What if I stop paying tax?
Simply call us on 0300 330 0740 to cancel the declaration.
Other frequently asked questions
What other ways are there for me to support the Stroke Association?
There are many ways to support our work. You may want to volunteer or campaign for us, take part in fundraising events in your region or leave us a legacy in your Will.