The South Bucks Hospice

South Bucks Hospice has opened a new charity shop in High Wycombe and Merlin^® software is ensuring that extra money is being claimed from the sale of their donated goods. This new shop replaces an existing unit and now doubles their retail space in the town.

However, it is only the latest addition to their retail operation as they already operate shops in Hazelmere, Amersham and Bourne End with others planned in the near future. Merlin^® operates across the whole of their retail operation and allows them to control all the shops from Head Office, including gift aid reclamation.

Merlin^® supplies specialist software for use in charity shops which not only controls the retail operation but also allows them to claim gift aid tax relief on the sales value of goods donated to them by UK taxpayers. Gift Aid is worth an extra 28% to the hospice and will make a significant difference to the work they can do and to the patients who use their facilities.

David Brodalla - Area Retail Manager - said "it's a constant battle raising money to keep the hospice operating at the level we know this area needs, especially during these difficult times of the credit crunch where we are seeing the amount of donations reducing, so it is great to know that Merlin^® is working hard behind the scenes to ensure we make full use of every penny available". He also stated "it's important that the people of High Wycombe and the surrounding area, who donate goods to our shop, ensure they join our Gift Aid Donor Scheme so that we can reclaim as much tax relief as possible. It would be nice to think that everyone would be happy to join the scheme and ensure we obtain everything that we are entitled to."

Owen Gleadall - Sales Director of Merlin software commented "our software has been helping charities to claim back gift aid tax relief for many years now and South Bucks Hospice join a long list of satisfied clients, ranging from small local charities to large heritage properties".

The system includes NCR RealPOS-21 touch screen retail terminals which have been specially programmed to make them easy to use for the volunteers that work in the shop. Special bar-codes track all donated goods and the software ensures that the correct amount of sales value is attributed to each donor. At the end of every month all South Bucks have to do is to press a button and the software will print out a claim for submission directly to HMRC for the reclamation of tax relief.