Donation FAQs: Your questions answered
Find out what you need to know about donating to the British Red Cross.
Questions cover the following topics:
If you can't find the answer to your question, please contact our supporter care team:
supportercare@redcross.org.uk
0300 456 1155
How to donate
How do I make a donation?
Donate online:
- Visit our current appeals and find the appeal you'd like to donate to.
- Choose a donation amount and payment method.
- You can make a one-off payment by card or PayPal. Or you can give monthly by setting up a direct debit.
Donate by phone or by post:
You'll find contact numbers and a postal form on the specific appeal pages.
Are donations made online by credit card and direct debit safe?
Yes, your details are safe. When donating online you'll be connected to a secure server, which is indicated by the padlock symbol in the address bar.
For more information on how we store and use your personal data, visit our privacy page.
Can I donate with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Faster Payments Service?
Not at the moment, however we're currently exploring different payment options. You can donate with PayPal.
How do I donate by text?
Follow the instructions on our text donations page.
Can I donate using cryptocurrency?
Yes. We accept donations in over 70 cryptocurrencies. Find out more about how to donate with cryptocurrency.
Can I donate through the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)?
Yes, however you can't donate using a CAF card online. To make a donation using a CAF card, please call our supporter care team on 0300 456 1155. Alternatively, you can send a CAF voucher through the post to our registered address: British Red Cross, 44 Moorfields, London, EC2Y 9AL.
Making changes to your details or donation
How do I change my address?
Email our supporter care team. Include your name and both your old and new addresses.
Your details will be updated right away, but one or two letters may still arrive at your old address.
How do I change my bank details?
Email our supporter care team to change your bank details.
How do I cancel my direct debit donation?
You can cancel a direct debit at any time by contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us either by email or calling us on 0300 456 1155.
Can an online donation be refunded?
Under charity law (The Charities Act 2011), charities are not permitted to refund donations, other than in specific circumstances, but we realise that errors sometimes happen, so please contact our supporter care team.
How can I change the way British Red Cross contacts me?
Call our supporter care team on 0300 456 1155 and we'll talk you through your options. Or you can complete our keeping in touch form.
How do I change the amount of my direct debit?
You can change your direct debit amount by sending an email to the regular giving support team. Include your name, address and supporter reference number, if you have this. Let us know the new amount you'd like to give and when you want this new arrangement to start. We'll send you a letter to confirm the change.
Donating to a specific cause
Can I choose which country or project gets my donation?
Take a look at our current appeals. You’ll see the countries and projects we’re raising funds for and you can choose which one to donate to.
If you prefer, you can support our general work, which helps people wherever the need is greatest in the UK or internationally.
How do donations to emergency appeals work?
To learn how emergency appeal donations are spent and how you can best support people in emergency situations, take a look at our emergency appeal FAQs.
Can I sponsor a child, family or hospital?
Our aim is to help entire communities. We're unable to restrict donations to individuals or organisations.
How is my donation spent?
Find out how we spend the money we receive from donations.
Other ways to give
Can I donate through eBay?
Sellers on eBay can donate some of their sales to the British Red Cross.
You can also buy items from sellers who support our work.
Read eBay's advice on selling to benefit a charity.
Can I recycle for the British Red Cross?
Yes, you can recycle your inkjet printer cartridges. We get £1 for every cartridge you recycle. The cartridges we recycle are: HP, Dell, Lexmark, Canon, Samsung and Neopost.
Visit Recycle4Charity to request a freepost recycling bag.
If your office, school or university has over 50 inkjet cartridges to recycle, please request a collection box from Recycle4Charity.
How do I leave a gift in my will?
You can leave a gift in your will in these three ways:
- Share of your estate.
- Cash gift.
- Specific item.
Find out more on how to leave a gift in your will.
Get your will written for free with help from a solicitor near you.
How do I donate in memory of a loved one?
You can make a one-off donation, organise a funeral collection or fundraise in someone's memory. Find out your options to donate in memory or call 0300 456 1005 to speak to our team. To arrange payment of a legacy gift kindly left to us in a will, explore our help for executors.
How can I make a regular donation through my pay?
If your employer deducts Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, you can donate in your pay. Your employer may already support payroll giving, so speak to them about setting this up. Learn more about donating in your pay.
What's the best way to donate loose change?
Use a Coinstar machine. These can be found in many supermarkets and shopping centres.
What can I donate to charity shops?
We’re grateful for your preloved clothes, toys, books, furniture and other items. Find out what you can donate to our charity shops.
Can I give to the British Red Cross when shopping online?
Yes, we work with Give as you Live and Easyfundraising. Sign up on their websites and make the British Red Cross your preferred charity. We'll receive a donation when you shop online.
Can I ask wedding guests to donate money instead of having a gift list?
You can set up a wedding celebration page using JustGiving. You can also set up fundraising pages for other life events, like birthdays and anniversaries.
If you'd like to discuss other options, please call us on 0300 456 1005 or send us an email.
About Gift Aid
What is Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a government scheme that allows us to reclaim the basic rate tax you pay. For every £1 you donate we can claim 25p at no extra cost to you. All you need to do is make a Gift Aid declaration.
Learn more about Gift Aid and how to make a declaration.
Do you have a question about donating?
Email us:
Do you have a question about this page or want to give us feedback? Visit our Contact us page.