University College Durham Trust

Donate to the Trust

The work of the Trust is only possible through the generosity of Castle graduates and others who support our work. In our first twenty years we have given financial support and helped to make possible projects with a total capital cost of some £550,000. We currently have assets of over £700,000. This is a modest figure but one which, with your help, we intend to grow over the coming years. Our next target is to build the Trust's assets to £1,000,000.

To achieve this we need your help. There are many ways of doing this.

  • One-off gifts can be made at any time to the Trust c/o The Master as ex-officio Chairman of the Trustees (email The Master) and, for United Kingdom taxpayers, signing the Gift-Aid Declaration Form (downloadable from bottom of this page) will add 25 pence to every pound you give. Higher rate taxpayers can reclaim further relief over and above the Gift-Aid tax reclaim that the Trust will obtain.
  • Joining with others who were in your year at Castle is a newer way of helping our work. The Class of '62 reunion pledged a total of £600 to the Trust. Gift-Aid rules will apply.
  • Regular donations can be made by banker's order from your bank account to that of the Trust's (downloadable Bankers-order Form at bottom of page) and these can also be linked to Gift Aid (downloadable declaration form at bottom of page).
  • Corporate gifts can be made and are fully allowable for corporation tax.
  • Some companies operate Payroll Giving schemes.
  • Gifts of shares are another way of helping the Trust. Transfers can be made free of charge and will attract full tax relief. Donations have included a single share in Marks & Spencer and a much larger number of shares in Rolls Royce.
  • Charities Aid Foundation cheques are a convenient way of giving for those who donate this way.
  • It is also possible to leave a legacy or a bequest to the Trust by including notice of this in your will or by writing a codicil if you have already written a will. Legacies to the Trust fall outside your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. The Government has announced that from 6th April 2012, anyone leaving 10% or more of their net estate (after deucting IHT, other exemptions and the nil rate band) will have their inheritance tax rate reduced from 40% to 30%.  

A suggested codicil wording is available below as a downloadable document.

    The Chairman (mailto:m.e.tucker@durham.ac.uk) would be happy to advise any intending donors.

    Please note that the Trust does not have a Registered Charity Number being, like Oxford, Cambridge and London Universities and their constituent colleges, an excepted charity. We do have a tax reference: XN80418.