Frequently Asked Questions
How does See The Difference work?
See The Difference helps you run fundraising events, give donations direct to specific charity projects, or give a gift to friends and family.
However you choose to get involved the important thing is that you’ll See The Difference you make. All of the projects we feature from registered UK charities are specific and achievable, and as a supporter you’ll get feedback when they’re a Job Done (Check out all these success stories to see some of the thousands helped).
Which charities can I support?
You can see the full list of charities we work with here - from small and local to large and global. Each is registered with the UK Charities Commission and each month we add new projects, so the selection is always up-to-date and varied.
If the charity you’d like to support isn’t on the site then let us know at change@seethedifference.org
What are charity projects?
We work with UK registered charities to identify specific achievable projects to feature on See The Difference. The aim is to offer projects which need help right now, and where your money can make a real, demonstrable, difference. Any donations made to the projects are 'restricted income', which means by law the charities must spend the money in the way they have described.
We also encourage charities to think about presenting the project in a fresh and direct way, and we always ask them to produce a video that tells you all about it.
How can I see the difference my money makes?
The text below the video clip on each project pages explains exactly how your money will be spent, and who it will help. Any donations made to the projects are 'restricted income', which means by law the charities must spend the money in the way they have described.
Each charity also makes a feedback promise, explaining exactly how they will show you the difference that the donations made (it's under the section 'What will I see?')
How do I set up a fundraising event?
Whether you’re planning to do a marathon or sit in a bath of beans you can set up and run your fundraiser with See The Difference. You can provide details of your event, share it with friends, and see who’s supported you.
The simple steps to getting up and running are laid out here.
How do I give a gift?
You can give to any charity project as a gift for someone else, and we’ll throw in a free card and postage. Just tell us where you’d like us to send the card, and whether you’d like us to add a personal message. Or we can send it direct to you so you can hand it over in person.
You can find out more about Gifts here.
Is it safe?
Yes, it's easy and secure to make a donation. All money is collected by Virgin Money Giving (a not-for-profit part of the Virgin Money bank) and distributed within the same week to the charity. All personal information is kept securely and we never send it on to third parties without permission.
See The Difference will never ask you for credit card or other security passwords in unsolicited phone calls or email. If you receive such a request, please report it to us by sending an email to change@seethedifference.org
Who do I contact when I need help?
If you have just made a payment or are having payment problems and need help right now, contact the Virgin Money Giving Helpdesk.
If you have spotted a comment on the site you think we need to take a look at, report it to us by sending an email to change@seethedifference.org.
If you want to update the email address we send your feedback to, keep us up to date by emailing change@seethedifference.org.
If you want to share your thoughts, recommend a charity, suggest improvements or send us jokes, send an email to change@seethedifference.org.
You can also call us on 0844 324 6010. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30am-6pm.
Who covers your costs?
Over 700 volunteers gave their time and expertise for free to help develop See The Difference. The costs of building and launching See The Difference have been paid for by a generous group of founders with in-kind support from our Partners.
The aim is to create a long term sustainable service that keeps making giving better, that is free to givers and open to all registered UK charities.
We charge charities a small administration fee to cover the costs of running the See The Difference Website and Virgin Money Giving charge charities a small fee for registering charities, collecting payments and getting monies to the charities each week.
The combined fee is 5% of the total amount donated (including Gift Aid).
How do I add Gift Aid?
Gift Aid is a great way to make your donation 25% bigger.
If you are a UK taxpayer, simply follow the prompts when you make a donation to confirm you want to add gift aid, add your address and click the 'I am a UK taxpayer' box. We will do the rest.
You can find more details in our Gift Aid section.
How do I join the team?
We're always on the lookout for people to join us. Why not drop us a line to change@seethedifference.org or give us a call on 0844 324 6010.
