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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did you start Friends of Bwindi?

Jo Burton went to Uganda to trek gorillas and was blown away by the poverty, the number of orphans in the community and the optimism and energy of the people. She saw local people doing amazing work to support the most vulnerable, with very few resources, and no way of publicising their work to gain more support. She realised that other travellers would want to help, but it is not easy due to high bank transfer fees and other factors.

Jo already had some experience of running a charity and of fund raising, and friends and family were keen to help too. Friends of Bwindi aim to connect the people who need and deserve support with the people who want to give it.

What percentage of your income is spent on staff wages and office costs in the UK?

None, £0, 0%. Friends of Bwindi is run entirely by volunteers working from home.

Do you decide what projects should be run?

No! We do not presume to know what is best for the communities around Bwindi. We try to be as flexible as possible about the projects funded and the monitoring & feedback required, so that organisations can get on with doing whatever is needed most.

How can I be confident that my donation is used for the intended purpose?

We ask for feedback and monitoring information from all beneficiaries, including scans or photos of receipts and proof that the project has taken place. Beneficiary organisations must work to high standards of transparency and accountability. If necessary we work with them to put systems in place to strengthen accountability and hopefully benefit the organisation by improving transparency both to beneficiaries and to donors, encouraging support from a wider range of sources.

Can I reclaim tax on my donation?

Yes! Friends of Bwindi is based in the UK and has charitable tax status. If you are a UK tax payer we can claim Gift Aid on your donations, and if you are a higher rate taxpayer you can reclaim the additional tax in your self-assessment form. Our details can be confirmed on the HMRC Charities website. You can make a gift aid declaration here.

If you donate online to our Paypal account you will be redirected to a page with a link to a Gift Aid declaration, or if you use our online CharityGiving donation service you will have the chance to make a Gift Aid declaration during the donation process.

Didn't you used to be 'Friends of Bwindi Orphanage'?

Yes, we started our organisation with the intention of focussing our support on a particular organisation.

Charity law requires that our trustees ensure as far as possible that your donations are used for the intended purpose. We can only support organisation that are willing to comply with thes requirements.

We now aim to support orphaned and vulnerable children in the region by supporting various organisations, and individual students & families.

More questions?

Please contact us for more information and to help us improve this FAQ list!