Everyone across the diocese has the opportunity to make donations towards Christian Aid throughout April and May – and you won’t need cash to do it!
In partnership with Christian Aid, the Diocesan office has acquired one of up to 500 ‘Goodbox’ Contactless collection devices which will be available for anyone who wants to make a donation both when they visit the office and during Archdeacons’ visitations.
The units are being offered by Goodbox free of charge on a trial basis to churches, and every gift will go to Christian Aid and the Cyclone Idai appeal. The unit is available for donations to Christian Aid initially, and after June it will be available to raise funds at Diocesan events for a range of causes.
The offer from Goodbox of a free trial unit is open to up to 500 churches who want to trial contactless giving, and who would like to support the work of Christian Aid between now and June. After that, the units can be purchased at a discounted price or returned free of charge.
“Contactless payment is becoming the norm in every part of life, from market stalls, pubs and tearooms to independent shops and major retailers – fewer and fewer people are carrying cash, and this is having an impact on collections in our churches”, said Jo Beacroft-Mitchell, Team Leader of the diocesan Generous Giving Team.
“Contactless devices are quick and easy to set up and are available at a range of prices, starting at less than £20 for a small unit, which would suit a lot of parishes, to large free standing units being trialed by some of our larger churches. The challenge isn’t really the cost, it’s more about making this way of giving feel as normal as putting some money in the collection.”
More details of the trial, and how to get hold of your free unit, as well as detail of other contactless giving options are available on the Generous Giving page on the diocesan website.