Embracing contactless giving in the Archdiocese of Southwark

The Roman Catholic Church has long played a vital role in the spiritual and community life of the UK, with each diocese seeking to help people grow in faith and live in hope. The Archdiocese of Southwark is one of the largest in the country, covering South London and Kent, and supporting over 170 parishes in their mission to serve diverse and vibrant communities.

Background

As with many faith-based organisations, the Archdiocese relies on donations to fund parish life, outreach work, and ongoing maintenance of historic church buildings. Traditionally, this support has come through weekly offerings during Mass — but with fewer people carrying cash, there been a need to adapt.

Introducing CollecTin

Since 2019, the Archdiocese of Southwark has successfully implemented CollecTin contactless devices across 60 of its 175 churches. In 2024 alone, parishes raised over £1 million through CollecTin in partnership with Give A Little, with 40% of donations Gift Aided, securing an additional £100,000 in income.

Churches across the Archdiocese have embraced this modern method of giving, which has proven especially valuable in light of the significant decline in cash use following the COVID-19 pandemic. The CollecTin devices offer an affordable, user-friendly solution that can be stationed in key areas of church buildings or used as handheld units to maximise engagement. 

“We value our ongoing partnership with CollecTin and look forward to continuing this collaboration to further empower parishes in their mission and fundraising efforts.”
— Roisin McLaughlin, Head of Fundraising, Archdiocese of Southwark