Support Our Reach Out! Programme and Spread the Festival Joy
This March, we have an incredible opportunity to bring professional arts to more isolated people across Ripon – and we need your help.
Between 17-24 March, every donation to Ripon Theatre Festival will be DOUBLED by the Central Match Fund as part of the Big Give’s Arts for Impact campaign.
That means your £5 becomes £10. Your £25 becomes £50. Your £100 becomes £200. Every gift goes twice as far.
Our target is £2,400 of online donations, which will actually mean £4,800. What a difference that could make to our Outreach Programme!
What we're funding
Our 2026 Reach Out! programme takes professional theatre, dance, and creative workshops to those who face barriers to accessing the arts:
- Live performances in care homes for residents living with dementia
- Bedside theatre for those who can’t leave their rooms
- Creative workshops for learning-disabled adults
- Sensory storytelling for SEND children and families
- Training for care workers to continue arts practice
- Special performances and workshops for schools
When the Arts Are the Method, the Impact is Social
How to Donate
You can donate to our Big Give campaign in three ways. Donations made during the campaign week (17–24 March, midday to midday) are eligible for match funding.
- Credit or Debit Card (including Google Pay and Apple Pay)
Visit our campaign page, click Donate, and complete the form with your card details. You do not need to create an account. You can donate between £1 and £25,000 using this method. - Pay by Bank
Donate directly from your bank account using your banking app – no card needed. At step 3 of the donation form, simply select “Pay by Bank” and follow the on-screen instructions. You can donate between £1 and £10,000 using this method. - Donation Fund (Bank Transfer / BACS)
This option is designed for donors giving £500 or more who would prefer not to use a card. You set up a Big Give donor account, transfer your funds by bank transfer to a secure virtual account linked to that account, and then complete your donation via our campaign page during the campaign week. Please note that the initial bank transfer alone does not count as the donation – you must also complete the donation on the campaign page for it to be matched. BACS donations are only available to UK bank account holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create an account to donate?
No. If you are donating by card or Pay by Bank, you can complete your donation without creating an account. A donor account is only required if you are using the Donation Fund (BACS) option.
How much can I donate?
You can donate as little as £1. Card donations are accepted up to £25,000, and Pay by Bank up to £10,000. For larger gifts via bank transfer, the Donation Fund (BACS) option has no upper limit specified, though it is intended for donations of £500 or more.
Will my donation be doubled even if you have already reached your target?
Match funding is available up to our campaign target. However, any donations made after the target is reached are still gratefully received as unrestricted income – so please do give even if you see that we have met our goal.
I want to donate by bank transfer. Does the transfer itself count as my donation?
No. If you are using the Donation Fund (BACS) route, the initial bank transfer loads funds into your Big Give donor account, but you must then visit our campaign page during the campaign week and complete the donation from your account for it to be counted and matched. The transfer alone is not sufficient.
My bank doesn’t support Pay by Bank. What should I do?
You can check which banks support Pay by Bank on the Big Give website. If yours is not listed, you can donate by card instead, or use the Donation Fund (BACS) option if you are giving £500 or more.
Are there any fees on my donation?
Big Give charges fees on donations to cover platform costs. Full details can be found on the Big Give fees page at biggive.org/our-fees/
What if I want to donate to several arts charities during the campaign?
If you are a funder or larger donor looking to give to multiple charities, the Donation Fund (BACS) option may be more convenient. Once funds are loaded into your donor account, you can allocate them across different campaigns during the week.
We’re a business. Can we claim our donation as a tax-deductible expense?
In most cases, yes. UK companies can generally deduct a charitable donation as a business expense against Corporation Tax, reducing their taxable profit. A £500 donation would therefore reduce the company’s tax bill by £500 multiplied by their applicable tax rate. Note that Gift Aid does not apply to companies – it is only available to individual taxpayers.
When you donate through the Big Give platform, you will receive an automatic donation receipt which can be used as evidence in your company’s accounts. We do not issue separate tax certificates.
If your business is considering a larger gift or has specific questions about how a donation should be treated for tax purposes, we recommend speaking with your accountant, as the rules can vary depending on your circumstances.