Texting for Good: Supporting Brooke's Mission

In the United Kingdom, supporting charitable causes has never been more accessible, especially when it comes to organisations like Brooke, a leading international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules. These animals are often the sole means of livelihood for families in some of the world's poorest communities, yet they frequently endure demanding conditions and a lack of proper care. Brooke steps in to provide vital veterinary treatment, training for owners, and education on animal welfare, ensuring these hardworking animals live healthier, happier lives.

One of the simplest and most direct ways to contribute to Brooke's invaluable work is through text message donations. This method offers unparalleled convenience, allowing you to make a significant impact from the palm of your hand. Whether you're looking to give a quick one-off gift or commit to regular monthly support, texting provides a secure and straightforward avenue for your generosity. Every donation, big or small, goes directly towards providing essential care, preventing suffering, and empowering communities who rely on these incredible animals.

The Simplicity of Text Donations: How Your Message Makes a Difference

Donating to Brooke via text message is designed to be as easy and efficient as possible, ensuring that your contribution reaches the animals in need swiftly. When you send a text donation, Brooke receives 100% of your donated amount, meaning every penny goes directly towards their programmes and initiatives. This transparency gives donors confidence that their support is being fully utilised where it's needed most, helping working horses, donkeys, and mules around the world.

It's important to note that while Brooke receives the full donation amount, you will also be charged your standard service provider's rate for the cost of one text message, in addition to the donation itself. This is a small, one-off charge from your mobile network, separate from the charitable contribution. The entire process is streamlined, allowing you to make a meaningful impact with just a few taps on your phone, truly embodying the power of a simple text.

Making a One-Off Gift: Instant Impact

If you're looking to make an immediate contribution, Brooke offers a variety of one-off text donation options, each linked to different campaigns or specific donation amounts. This flexibility allows you to choose a keyword and shortcode that aligns with your preferred giving level. Your generosity directly supports Brooke's comprehensive work, from emergency interventions to long-term community projects, ensuring that vital aid reaches animals experiencing the greatest need.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the current one-off text donation campaigns:

There is no limit to the number of times you can make a one-off donation via text, offering continuous opportunities to support Brooke. However, for security and responsible giving, a daily limit of £30 applies to text donations from the same mobile number between midnight and midnight. If you attempt to donate more than this amount within a single day, the additional donation will not be processed, although you may still incur your standard network message charge for the attempted text.

Sustaining Change: Monthly Text Donations

For those who wish to provide ongoing, reliable support, Brooke offers a convenient monthly charity subscription service via text. This ensures a steady stream of funding for their long-term projects and continuous care programmes, allowing Brooke to plan and execute their initiatives with greater certainty. This consistent support is crucial for creating lasting change in the lives of working animals.

To sign up for a monthly gift, you need to text a specific keyword to a designated shortcode:

Upon signing up, your first £3 donation will be immediately charged to your phone bill or deducted from your pay-as-you-go credit. In the first month, you will also be charged the cost of one standard rate text message for signing up to the service. Each subsequent month, you will receive a free reminder text message the day before your donation is due. If you're happy to continue your support, you don't need to do anything, and your £3 donation will be automatically charged.

Managing Your Monthly Donation: Skip or Stop

Brooke understands that circumstances can change, and they offer flexibility for your monthly giving. If you prefer not to give in a particular month, you can easily skip a donation. Simply text SKIP to 70111 within 24 hours of receiving your monthly reminder text. You'll receive a confirmation text letting you know that your payment for that month will not be taken. Please note that sending the SKIP text will incur one standard rate text message charge.

While Brooke hopes you'll continue your valuable support, you can stop your monthly subscription at any time. To cancel your recurring donation, text STOP to 70111. You will be charged for one standard rate text message for sending this command, and Brooke will send you a confirmation text to confirm that your subscription has been cancelled. This system provides complete control over your regular contributions.

Requesting a Call Back: More Ways to Connect

Beyond direct donations, Brooke also uses text messages to facilitate further engagement with supporters. For some campaigns, particularly those advertised on television, you can text a keyword to a shortcode to request a call back from Brooke. This allows you to learn more about their work, ask questions, or discuss other ways to contribute, providing a more personal connection to the charity.

It's important to be aware that for some campaigns where you make a donation and request a call back, you may also be agreeing to receive future phone communications from Brooke. This will be clearly stated in the terms and conditions of the advertisement. However, Brooke always offers an option to donate without opting into future contact, and you can change your mind at any time by contacting their Supporter Care Team.

Important Considerations for Text Donors

To ensure a smooth and informed donation process, there are a few key points to bear in mind when using Brooke's text donation services:

• UK Mobile Networks Only: This service is exclusively available for use from a UK mobile phone. It does not include Channel Islands or Isle of Man mobile networks. If you donate using a UK mobile while abroad, you may incur additional network charges from your service provider.
• Technical Reliability: While every effort is made to ensure reliability, Brooke and their sub-contractors cannot accept responsibility for any technical failure or malfunction with any telephone network, line, system, server, or provider that may result in a text not being properly received.
• Permission Required: All supporters must obtain permission from the bill payer before sending a text message donation. If you are under 18 years old, you must have your parent or guardian's permission before making a donation or signing up for any campaigns. This ensures responsible giving and adherence to mobile network regulations.
• No Refunds for Mistakes: Unless explicitly stated otherwise, there are generally no refunds for the cost of any SMS donation made, or for any misdialled short codes or misspelled keywords. It's always advisable to double-check the keyword and shortcode before sending your text.

Maximising Your Gift with Gift Aid

If you are a UK taxpayer, your donations to Brooke via text message are eligible for Gift Aid. This incredible scheme allows Brooke to reclaim the basic rate tax you have already paid on your gift from HM Revenue & Customs, increasing the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you. For example, a £10 donation becomes £12.50 for Brooke, making your support go even further.

To enable Brooke to reclaim Gift Aid on your text donations, you will need to contact them directly. You can call their Supporter Care Team on 020 7470 9393 or send an email to [email protected]. They will guide you through the simple process of completing a Gift Aid declaration, allowing them to maximise the impact of your generosity.

Your Data and Privacy: How Brooke Protects Your Information

Brooke is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care and respect. When you make a text donation, certain data is collected and processed to facilitate your contribution and manage the services provided. Brooke works with trusted third-party service providers to ensure this process is secure and compliant with data protection regulations.

• SMS Service Providers: The SMS service for most one-off campaigns (campaigns 1-12 in the table above) is provided by Vir2, a division of RSM2000 Ltd. The SMS service for the monthly donation campaign (campaign 13, 'SAVE') is provided by Cymba Integrated Solutions Ltd. These providers collect your mobile phone number and donation amount.
• How Data is Used: Your data is used to process your donation, provide receipts, send SMS text reminders (for regular donations), process refunds if necessary, manage failed donations, and analyse Brooke's income. The lawful basis for this processing is 'Legitimate Interest', as supporters would reasonably expect their data to be processed to pass on their donation to Brooke, without unreasonably impacting their rights under GDPR.
• Call Back Service Providers: For call-back requests, the SMS service is provided by Vir2. This data is then passed to Stanton Lea Ltd (trading as NTT), a specialist charity tele-fundraising agency who make calls on Brooke's behalf.

Brooke encourages you to read their comprehensive privacy statement for detailed information on how they collect, use, and protect your personal information. Your trust is paramount, and they are registered as a data controller with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office under registration number Z7582543.

Managing Your Communication Preferences

Brooke values your support and wants to keep you updated on their news, events, activities (including fundraising and appeals), and other ways you can help. However, you are always in control of how they communicate with you. You can update your communication preferences or inform them that you no longer wish to hear from Brooke at any time.

To do so, you can:

• Call their Supporter Care Team on 020 7470 9393.
• Email them at [email protected].
• Write to them at Brooke, York House, Wetherby Road, Long Marston, York, YO26 7NH.

Additionally, you can opt-out of receiving future communications from Brooke by visiting the Fundraising Preference Service website, an independent service that allows you to manage direct marketing communications from charities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Text Donations to Brooke

Q: How much does a text donation cost me?

A: When you send a text donation, you will be charged the specific donation amount (e.g., £3, £5, or £10) plus your service provider’s standard rate for one text message. Brooke receives 100% of the donation amount.

Q: Is there a daily limit to how much I can donate by text?

A: Yes, for one-off text donations, there is a daily limit of £30 from the same mobile number between midnight and midnight. You cannot donate more than £30 by text on the same day, although an attempted donation beyond this limit may still incur a standard network message charge.

Q: Can I donate from outside the UK?

A: No, the text donation service can only be used from a UK mobile number. It does not include Channel Islands or Isle of Man mobile networks. If you use a UK mobile abroad, you may incur additional network charges.

Q: How do I stop monthly text donations?

A: To stop your monthly subscription, text STOP to 70111. You will receive a confirmation text, and you will be charged for one standard rate text message for sending the STOP command.

Q: Can I skip a monthly donation without stopping my subscription entirely?

A: Yes, you can. If you receive your monthly reminder text and wish to skip that month's donation, text SKIP to 70111 within 24 hours of receiving the reminder. You will be charged for one standard rate text message for sending the SKIP command.

Q: Can I claim Gift Aid on my text donation?

A: Yes, if you are a UK taxpayer, your text donations are eligible for Gift Aid. To enable Brooke to reclaim the tax on your donation (making it worth 25% more at no cost to you), please call them on 020 7470 9393 or email [email protected] to complete a Gift Aid declaration.

Q: What if I text the wrong number or keyword by mistake?

A: Unless otherwise stated, there are generally no refunds for the cost of any SMS donation made, or for any misdialled short codes or misspelled keywords. Always double-check the details before sending your text.

Q: Who collects and processes my data when I donate by text?

A: For most one-off campaigns, Vir2 (a division of RSM2000 Ltd) provides the SMS service. For monthly donations, Cymba Integrated Solutions Ltd provides the service. Both collect your mobile number and donation amount to process your gift. For call-back requests, Vir2 collects the data, which is then passed to Stanton Lea Ltd (trading as NTT) for making calls on Brooke’s behalf.

Q: How can I change my communication preferences with Brooke?

A: You can update your preferences or opt-out of future communications at any time by calling 020 7470 9393, emailing [email protected], writing to them, or by visiting the Fundraising Preference Service website.

Conclusion: Your Text, Their Future

Every text donation, whether a one-off gift or a regular monthly contribution, directly impacts the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules that are so vital to their communities. Your quick and easy donation via text message provides essential veterinary care, offers invaluable training to owners, and supports long-term projects that alleviate suffering and promote animal welfare globally. By choosing to donate through this accessible method, you are not just giving money; you are providing hope, health, and a better future for these deserving animals and the families who depend on them. Thank you for considering supporting Brooke's incredible mission.

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