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One of the island's largest charities has heralded the dawn of 'contactless giving', as it revealed that income from penny pot donations had recently dropped by as much as a fifth.
As more and more of society drops carrying cash around, charities are adjusting by replacing old donation tins with contactless technology.
The 'Tap to Give' devices use contactless technology to enable donors to make donations by card, phone, or smart watch to support their chosen charity when they are out and about.
Over the past three years, the UK Fundraising Report 2019 reported that 26% of charities had seen cash donations decrease - something that Jersey Hospice says it has seen first-hand with a decrease in collection tin income of 21%.
Pictured: One of the terminals in use.
The drop is significant for the charity, given that it costs £18,600 a day to run its palliative care services.
Barclaycard led early research in 2016 to identify the impact that a cashless society was likely to have on donation income to charities.
Their research showed that one in seven (15%) people admitted to walking away from a donation opportunity at least once in 2015 because they were unable to give using a debit or credit card.
But, since the roll-out of contactless giving technology across the island, Jersey Hospice has been one of many charities to see the benefits.
Pictured: Jersey Zoo benefited from contactless giving technology during its 'Go Wild Gorillas' campaign.
To date, the charity, which supports islanders with terminal and life-limiting illnesses and their families, has received over £3,500 in contactless donations.
The amount alone was enough to fund their bereavement and emotional support service for three days, or to support specialist palliative care in the community for a day.
Katrina Hancock, Director of Income Generation at Jersey Hospice Care, explained that it is important to help supporters “to make a donation to their favourite charity, as easily as possible".
“At Jersey Hospice Care, we rely on the generosity of Islanders to enable us to offer our specialist care to everyone who needs our support, wherever they wish to receive it, free of charge," she said.
Pictured: The KFC team with their charity 'tap' terminal.
The 'Tap to Give' terminals have been placed in a number of local business locations, including Coffee Republic, De Gruchy, KFC, Pizza Hut, Bean Around the World, Café Jac, and the Co-op, and have so far proven very popular.
In addition, Jersey Hospice's shop on Union Street has also installed a 24-hour tap donation option in its window display.
More and more charities including Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support Jersey, Jersey Alzheimer’s Association, and St. John Ambulance Jersey are now switching to contactless donations.
Beth Gallichan, Fundraising Manager of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, said: “We first adopted Tap to Give during the Gorilla Trail and were delighted that so many people made contactless donations to support building a new home for our gorillas.”
Pictured: A contactless charity terminal at Pizza Hut.
The average donation charities receive using Tap to Give is £2, with supporters having the option to increase that to the £30 contactless maximum.
The greatest challenge with any new technology was in reassuring users of its security and value.
However, local charities hope that, with an increasing number of outlets now offering 'Tap to Give', supporters will hopefully be reassured.
“Every gift makes a difference," they noted in a joint statement.
By Maja Jeromkin, who was on work experience with Express.
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