FAQs

Millions of elderly people in developing countries are left alone and helpless. These elders are in need of basic care so they can live out their later years in dignity and in happiness. They may be too ill or too poor to look after themselves. Many are homeless, malnourished and have untreated health problems. They may not have any family to turn to. Even if they do have children, younger generations are often left battling poverty, conflict, famine or a disaster - they can’t help their elders.

But you can help, by adopting a gran for just 33p a day. Your sponsorship of an elderly person will make a big difference to their life. You will help provide the quality care they need, allowing them to live in dignity and happiness.

Sponsorships are assigned on a “where most needed” basis, ensuring that your regular commitment can make a real difference to the life of an elderly person in desperate need.

Depending upon the circumstances of the elderly person, many live in our own bespoke care homes. Others live with their extended families, which is encouraged wherever possible and appropriate.

Penny Appeal’s Adopt a Gran care homes are especially set up to provide the highest quality care to the residents. They are designed to be easily accessible with all necessary modification to ensure that the grans are safe, happy and well. Bedrooms provide all of the comfort and furniture each gran needs. Each person has their own bed and furniture for their personal items. Trained staff provide round-the-clock care and there are regular visits by a doctor and physiotherapist, plus other health professionals as required. Skilled chef and kitchen staff cook and provide nutritious meals each day. The dining area is also open to elderly people from the community, meaning that they can come each day for a hot, nutritious meal and enjoy social time with the residents. There is a common room with a TV, newspapers and books, and a kitchen garden so that residents can help grow vegetables.

The quality care and social opportunities will bring so many benefits to residents. We’ll ensure that all of their needs are met, providing them with medication, company, food, social opportunities and a safe place to live. Your sponsored gran will enjoy better health and a more positive mood, and have many opportunities to learn and socialise. The benefits reach out into the wider community too, as other elderly people will be able to use some of the facilities, and children from Penny Appeal’s orphanages will come to visit the residents.

You will receive a welcome pack, which includes a profile of your sponsored gran, and once a year we'll send you an update on how your care is improving their quality of life. 

There is no minimum period - you can sponsor a gran for as long as you are able – but think how rewarding it will be to offer continuous support and ensure that an elderly person does not have to struggle to survive in their later years.

Of course! You can set up a regular and affordable monthly payment, which will support all of Adopt a Gran’s work.

Please get in touch with us before cancelling your monthly payment as we could reduce the amount so that you can still help us provide support to these elders. It also helps if you tell us first so that we can update our records.

It really helps us if you can Gift Aid your sponsorship or donation – it increases the value of your donation by 25%. If you are a UK taxpayer, selecting to 'Gift Aid' your donation (either by checking the box online or ticking the box on a paper donation form) will make it worth more to us at no extra cost to you.

In order for Penny Appeal to reclaim the tax you have paid on your donations, you must have paid income or capital gains tax (in the UK) equal to the tax that will be claimed by all the charities that you donate to (currently 25p for every £1 you give) in the same tax year. 

The tax reclaimed will be used to help fund the administration costs of the charity so that more of your actual donation can go directly to those in need. 

Gift Aid can be added to your donation if you are donating your own money. We regret that Gift Aid cannot be reclaimed if you are paying donations that you collected from others, even if everyone was a UK taxpayer. Neither can it be reclaimed on donations made by companies. Other taxes such as VAT and council tax do not qualify. Gift Aid cannot be claimed on payments for any ticketed events.

Please notify us if you are no longer eligible, wish to cancel this declaration, change your name or home address or if you no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. 

By ticking the box you agree that you are eligible to claim Gift Aid as explained above and that we can treat this donation, any donations made in the last 4 years, and future donations as Gift Aid, and that you understand that if you pay less income tax and/or capital gains tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year, it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

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