There are now several threads relating to different aspects of the super typhoon aftermath and I thought it might be useful to repeat some information in this main thread about charitable donations which I posted in reply to another thread in Loose Talk, Chat, etc. For anyone thinking about making a donation from the UK, please consider the following:-

I was going to make my donation to Philippines Red Cross, until I read on Sky News that the British government has now also pledged to match the first £5m donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) which is made up of 14 charities – their mission statement is “together we are stronger” and an example of some of those charities participating is:-

British Red Cross
Oxfam
Age International
Christian Aid
Merlin
Save the Children
World Vision
Action Aid

The government had already committed £10m in aid, so the additional £5m will increase the UK’s support to £15m in total. Donating £100 in this way will actually mean that £200 will be raised. There is also a UK Gift Aid donation that will add 25% to the donation of a UK Taxpayer. So a £100 donation then becomes valued at £225….. more for the desperate Filipino people.

The DEC website is: http://dec.org.uk/appeals/philippines-typhoon-appeal

Our government has endorsed DEC by making an agreement with them so that’s good enough for me, particularly because of the added incentive mentioned above as well as gift aid. However, if there are any cash collections at local supermarkets for Philippine Red Cross, I will give to them too.

I see that the Queen has also made a personal donation, a wonderful example!