eBay’s charitable partner Missionfish UK has selected eight charities to receive grants totalling £73,398 to help develop their online sales.

The grants come on the back of a record charity trading year on eBay with £6.25m in sales - a 56 per cent increase on 2010. Some 88 charities applied for the grants, with eight successful applicants. The grants will support charity sales through eBay and wherever else the charity is selling.

Chief executive of Missionfish UK, Nick Aldridge highlighted these issues:

“A growing number of UK charities have identified online fundraising as a big opportunity over the next few years. But funds for investment are scarce and charities struggle to find the resources for new operations from scratch. We’re delighted our grants scheme has proven so much in demand, and will look at expanding it once we’ve reviewed the impact of the first round,” said Aldridge.

A spokesman for grant beneficiary Clic Sargent outlined the ways the grant money would aid the charity in raising funds, stating:

“Clic Sargent is using the grant from MissionFish to revamp and expand on our eBay Team’s workspace with new computers, new cameras, professional photography and display equipment, and new shelving and storage equipment. This grant will be of great help to our charity, as expanding our eBay shop will increase our productivity and online presence."

The full list of grant recipients is:

• Age UK Solihull
• Saint Michael's Hospice
• St Peter's Hospice
• Clic Sargent
• Ministry of Stories
• Kiventon Park & Wales Community Development Trust
• Kirkwood Hospice
• Sense

A recent Charity Retail Association study showed that 94 per cent of charities selling online were using eBay, accounting for an average of 76 per cent of total online sales. The study also identified the main barriers to charity online selling – meeting logistical and staffing needs, lacking necessary IT equipment and a lack of working capital.