Contactless card readers are boosting generous giving across our diocese, according to reports from our treasurers. 
Last year some 15 parishes across the diocese managed to snag card readers, tablets and stands from a Visa-sponsored Parish Buying offer, and now treasurers from some of those parishes have been offering testimonials about how well they have done.
Barry Crompton, from Holy Trinity Ripon, said: “We are pleased with the initial take up of the Sum Up contactless card system.
“We have done over £900 of transactions in the first month of operation, using it only for special collections.
“In addition at least £700 of that we can increase via the GASDS scheme bringing the total special collection income through the Sum Up machine to over £1000 in the past month.
“We were very pleased to see that over the Christmas period we received £680 in donations to our Christmas collection and for the Christingle service, which was a significant increase on Christmas 2018.
“We recently also had a Christian Aid breakfast, and over a 2 ½ hour period we received £440 in cash donations and a further £242 (excluding gift aid) in card donations through the Sum Up machine.”
Dennis Child, from All Saints Bingley, said: “We specifically used it for our second year Christmas Tree Festival, which was free entry but had a notice asking people to donate.
“£253 was taken and enabled us to make over £550 over three days, twice as much as the previous year.”
Brian Pilkington, from All Saints Pontefract, said: “Once everyone had heard how simple it was, people were keen to use it; we call it ‘The Giving Machine’!
“For an extra £10 per month payable to the operators we can collect gift aid on donations and have different photo backgrounds on the tablet screen
“On the tablet, we can change what it is the money is actually collected for.
“We have a boiler fund on there at the moment and have collected an extra £600!
“I would recommend anyone to buy one as it has resulted in a definite increase in donations.”
Becky Nicholson, Lead Stewardship Officer at the Diocese of Leeds points out that with fewer people carrying cash, the contactless giving machines have still enabled churches to receive monetary gifts from congregations and visitors to their church.
“I have seen digital devices used by our senior or ‘young at heart’ churchgoers, because they are so simple to use with a debit card and some will even accept mobile phone payments.
“Churches have been able to quickly recoup the cost of purchase of these devices through the additional donations received so it is well-worth the investment.”
For more information about digital devices please contact Becky at becky.nicholson@leeds.anglican.org
More information about digital giving devices and other ways of fundraising using technology will be delivered at Becky’s Digital Fundraising Sessions across the Diocese in February and March.