If you have a small amount of shares, or received windfall shares from a privatisation or demutualisation, giving them to Amber is a tax effective way to support us and just as useful as cash in helping us to help young people to turn their lives around.

And you may be able to claim full tax relief against the value of the shares. So, if you are a 40% rate tax payer, a gift of shares worth £10,000 could cost you only £6,000. For a lower rate taxpayer it could cost you just £8,000. It will cost you only 50% if you pay the new higher rate of 50% tax. A gift of shares will also give rise to neither a gain nor a loss for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) purposes.

If you only have a few shares that would cost more to sell than they are worth, you can use them to help Amber by donating them to the charity ShareGift. ShareGift specialises in share donations, and in accepting small holdings of shares. Donated shares are accumulated until there are enough to sell, and the proceeds are then used to make donations to a wide range of other UK charities.

You'll find more information on tax relief on shares and securities on the Inland Revenue website