Using the Open Collective platform via the Social Change Agency to host SCMAG’s financial transactions will ensure that the handling of money between mutual aid participants will be secure, transparent and accountable.

To claim an expense via bank transfer rather than PayPal please select 'Other' and then enter your bank details (name, account number, sort code) into the private message box.

Valid expenses include:

Reimbursement of cost if a ward group needs to pay for shopping on behalf of somebody who cannot afford it*
Reimbursement to a volunteer of money lost if a recipient refuses to pay for shopping they have received or partial repayment only, e.g. if the recipient thinks the cost is too much and only pays part of it.
Reimbursement to a recipient of money lost if shopping is paid for but not received
Payment of shopping expenses to a volunteer if a recipient wishes to pay via the Open Collective platform for security reasons (please note this can take several days)
Reimbursement of fuel costs if a person fulfills a hotline request outside of Southampton City Council boundaries (30p per mile) - this applies to hotline requests only
Donations of money to individuals or other organisations as agreed by SCMAG

*Hotline operators should always try to secure a food bank voucher for the recipient first. Where this is not possible (e.g. we have maxed out our referrals) or where the food is needed more urgently than the food bank can provide (e.g. if the request is made after food banks have closed and the person needs food immediately), we encourage ward groups to try to raise money or carry out food collections amongst themselves to meet local requests. Where neither of these can be achieved wards may receive money from the account to meet the request (provided the account has the funds available).

All expenses will require a receipt or invoice before approval. These are to be submitted as part of the online expense claim process and will be approved by one of the admins of the account as soon as possible.

For security we strongly recommend that all donations and payments are made ‘incognito’ to protect the identities of mutual aid participants and to maintain equality between wards regardless of where donations are coming from.

Please be aware that if you need claim expenses through the SCMAG Open Collective account, these will only be paid out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays due to the operating hours of the Social Change Agency.

If the group closes down at the end of the COVID-19 crisis period any remaining money in the account will be donated to a local charity or community organisation decided on democratically by the members of SCMAG.

For more information on fiscal hosting for community groups visit the Social Change Agency’s webpage at https://thesocialchangeagency.org/nest-supporting-new-movements/fiscal-hosting/