Short answer
HMRC says payments for tickets to a charity concert or fundraising dinner don't qualify for Gift Aid, even if the price is higher than the cost of the event. A separate, genuinely optional donation can qualify, as long as buyers know they can attend without donating and donors get no preferential treatment.
Keep costs low so more money reaches the cause: with Tickean, organisers pay 0 per cent and buyers pay a booking fee shown in the final price. If there's music, ask PPL PRS whether a charity or community discount applies.
Checklist for your decision
β Your fee as the organiser and the booking fee buyers pay, written down separately.
β When the money reaches your account: per sale, weekly or after the event.
β The total price, booking fee included, shown from the first price buyers see (DMCC Act 2024).
β QR door scanning without expensive hired devices, with a live headcount.
β Promoter links, a guest list and several ticket tiers.
Options (including Tickean)
There's no single right platform. If your venue insists on a particular ticketing partner, go with that.
If you control your own ticketing: Tickean combines sales, payment and door scanning, with 0 per cent for organisers, QR tickets by WhatsApp and support over chat.