23 Food Fundraising Ideas for UK Charities and Community Groups (2026)

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Food and drink events are the backbone of community fundraising across the UK. From PTA bake sales to village-hall suppers and charity gala dinners, they combine a low set-up cost with high community turnout. NCVO's guidance on small-charity fundraising consistently highlights community events as one of the most accessible routes for organisations raising between £10k and £500k a year. Whether you run a registered charity, a community interest company, or an unincorporated local group, a well-organised food fundraiser can bring your supporters together and make a real difference to your cause.

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In this article:

• How do food fundraisers work?

• 23 food fundraising ideas for UK charities and community groups

• Food fundraising ideas for families and younger supporters

• Food fundraising ideas for schools

• Fancy food fundraising ideas

• Cash is fading: make card payments work at your event

• Why food fundraising continues to succeed

• Ready to put these ideas into action?

• Frequently asked questions

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How do food fundraisers work?

Food fundraisers are a popular and effective way to raise money for a good cause. They can range from simple bake sales to more elaborate events such as gourmet dinners or cooking competitions.

Offering delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere can attract supporters and encourage them to contribute to your organisation's mission.

Here is why food fundraisers are straightforward to host:

• Quick set-up: With support from your volunteers and local businesses, you can easily set up a food fundraiser. Partner with a local restaurant or a street food van to take the event to the next level.

• Opportunity to collaborate: A food fundraiser can form part of a wider local event such as a village fete or a community quiz night. Other charitable organisations can join in on a similar event. An animal welfare group could, for example, set up a stall selling pet treats.

• Give back to your donors: Including a tasty treat makes a donation more enjoyable for supporters and enhances their overall experience.

• Wider donor base: A food fundraiser is a great way to build community and spread awareness of your mission. Ideas such as a bake sale, a food-tasting event, or a community food fair draw the local community towards your cause.

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How to organise the best food fundraisers in 4 easy steps

• 1. Define your fundraising goal. Setting a target amount provides a tangible objective that motivates your team. For example, aiming to raise £3,000 from a bake sale gives everyone a measurable outcome to work towards.

• 2. Choose a food fundraiser idea. Consider your donors' demographics and any upcoming community events that will double the fun. Set up a themed supper for a seasonal occasion, or partner with local food stalls during the school holidays.

• 3. Promote your fundraiser. Even the best food fundraising ideas need promoting. Email newsletters and posts on social media are among the most cost-effective ways to promote your charity event.

• 4. Track your goals. Analyse whether your food fundraiser was a success by comparing results against the target you set. Identify what worked and what did not, so your next event performs even better.

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Gift Aid and your food fundraiser: what applies and what does not

Understanding Gift Aid eligibility before your event saves time and avoids awkward conversations with donors afterwards.

Ticket sales are not Gift Aid eligible. When a supporter pays to attend a pasta night or a gala dinner, that payment is made in exchange for food and an experience. The Charity Tax Group and HMRC Gift Aid guidance are clear: Gift Aid cannot be claimed on payments for goods or services.

Raffle ticket sales are not Gift Aid eligible. A raffle ticket is a payment for a chance to win a prize. Gift Aid does not apply.

Straight donations are Gift Aid eligible. A bucket collection at the entrance, a text-to-donate ask during the evening, or a clearly optional donation added to a ticket price (where the donor receives nothing in return for that extra amount) are all Gift Aid eligible, provided the donor is a UK taxpayer and signs a Gift Aid declaration.

Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS). Your charity can claim a 25% top-up on small cash and contactless donations of £30 or less, without a written declaration, up to £8,000 in eligible donations per tax year. This is particularly useful for bucket collections at fetes and community dinners. Verify current GASDS figures against HMRC's Gift Aid guidance before your event.

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Raffles, prize draws and the Gambling Act: what you need to know

If you plan to add a raffle to your food fundraiser, you need to know which category applies to your event under the Gambling Act 2005.

Selling tickets in advance of the draw? That is a small society lottery. You must register with your local council. Registration costs £40 initially and £20 for annual renewal. A single lottery may not sell more than £20,000 in tickets; your annual aggregate across all lotteries is capped at £250,000. At least 20% of proceeds must go to your charitable cause, and the maximum single prize is £25,000. Full details are available from the Gambling Commission's small society lotteries guidance.

Drawing the raffle entirely at the event, using only tickets sold at the event? That is an incidental non-commercial lottery. No registration is required. This covers the classic fete raffle or dinner raffle where tickets are sold and drawn on the same occasion.

Remember: Gift Aid never applies to raffle ticket purchases.

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23 food fundraising ideas for UK charities and community groups

Starting with some of the most effective ideas that require minimal effort. These work equally well for PTAs, village halls, church groups, and small registered charities.

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1. Bake sale

Bake sales are the archetypal UK community fundraiser. PTAs, village-hall committees, church groups, and scout troops have run them for generations. They are easy to organise, cheap to set up, and virtually guaranteed to draw a crowd.

Ask volunteers from your organisation to bake biscuits, cakes, scones, cupcakes, and loaves. Ensure you include gluten-free and vegan options so everyone can take part.

Food safety note. Under Natasha's Law and the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulations, you should label every item with its ingredients and clearly flag the 14 declarable allergens. Place a small card next to each tray listing what it contains. Check the Food Standards Agency guidance on allergens before your event.

How to make your bake sale a success

• Offer a "bake-at-home" kit with pre-measured ingredients and recipe instructions as a product line alongside the baked goods.

• Host a virtual bake sale with online ordering and local delivery or collection, reaching supporters who cannot attend in person.

• Take card payments at the table with Zeffy tap-to-pay on a volunteer's phone, so you do not lose sales from supporters who have no cash.

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2. Mystery menu auction

Want to add a fun twist to your food fundraiser? Invite your guests to bid for their dinner without knowing what is on the plate.

Volunteers prepare a meal of their choice in advance. It can be as simple as a warming shepherd's pie or as impressive as a prawn cocktail with beef wellington. Every dish arrives at the table covered, and guests bid blind on the concealed meals. Bids typically start at £15 to £20, but set the floor according to the cost of the ingredients.

This is a live auction on the night, not a raffle, so no Gambling Commission registration is required. Note that the winning bid is a payment for goods received, so Gift Aid does not apply to those amounts.

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3. Potluck fundraiser

A potluck can be a brilliant food fundraiser for small charities and community groups, building a genuine sense of togetherness among your supporters.

Potluck suppers bring back the tradition of gathering and sharing food. Ask volunteers and guests to bring a dish of their choice: a starter, a main, or a dessert platter, showcasing the diverse culinary traditions in your community.

There are several ways to raise funds through a potluck event:

• Sell affordable tickets to the potluck using Zeffy's free ticketing platform.

• Sell printed or digital recipe cards for the dishes on the night to raise extra funds.

• Create a themed potluck such as "Around the World" or "Family Favourites" and charge a slightly higher ticket price for the unique experience.

• Partner with a local restaurant to sponsor the event. In return, offer them promotional opportunities such as displaying their logo on event materials or providing samples of their menu.

• Run a silent auction alongside the potluck, with items donated by local businesses, artists, or community members, and direct all proceeds to your fundraising target.

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4. Barbecue cook-off

A summer-fete barbecue cook-off is an energetic and enjoyable way to raise money, and it works particularly well for sports clubs, CASC-registered community groups, scout troops, and church youth groups.

Encourage members of your organisation to enter their best barbecue recipe. Promote the event on social media and in local community groups. Sell entry tickets and invite the public to taste and judge the dishes.

Food safety note. If you are selling burgers, sausages, or other food to the public, check with your local council whether you need to register the food activity at least 28 days before the event. Most one-off community events are exempt, but it is worth confirming locally via Food Standards Agency guidance.

Award the best recipes with a small prize or gift to motivate participants. Add live music, fun games, and activities to turn a cook-off into a full community occasion.

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5. Cake walk

Cake walks have been a crowd favourite at village fetes for decades. Their charm is still very much intact, and this fun activity can be a great addition to any community fundraiser.

Participants donate a cake they have made themselves or sourced from a local bakery. As music plays, they walk around a circle of numbered boxes. When the music stops, a number is called and the person standing on that number gets to choose a cake.

Cake walks work best as part of a wider food fair or fete. Raise funds by selling tickets to participate. Here is how to set one up:

• Ask volunteers to donate a cake a few days before the event.

• On the day, form a large circle in an open area and display all the cakes.

• Create numbered boxes based on your group size. Twenty is a good starting number.

• Write the corresponding numbers on small slips of paper and place them in a bowl for the presenter to draw from.

• Start the music and begin calling numbers.

• Keep going until all the cakes have been claimed.

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6. Soup bowl

Soup sales are one of the most popular food fundraising ideas, particularly at church and community-hall events during autumn and winter. Ask community members to bring bowls and flasks of piping-hot homemade soup. Include a variety of soups to cater for different tastes and dietary requirements.

You can also organise themed soup sales, such as a Chicken Soup Day or a soup-and-bread bar. Set a price per bowl or invite attendees to contribute as they wish.

To add variety and excitement to your soup sale, consider:

• Offering a "Soup Sampler" option where attendees try small portions of several soups.

• Partnering with a local bakery to provide fresh bread rolls to accompany the soups.

• Providing take-home options, such as quart-sized containers or freezer-friendly packaging, for supporters who want to enjoy the soups later.

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7. Pasta night

Italian food is universally popular and straightforward to prepare in volume. A pasta night works equally well as a school PTA event, a church-hall fundraiser, or a community-centre supper.

Set an admission price and sell tickets online or through volunteers in advance. Put together a welcoming menu with spaghetti, penne or rigatoni, meatballs, sausages, a salad, garlic bread, and plenty of sauce. Round off the meal with a traditional tiramisu.

Gift Aid note. Ticket revenue is payment for food and an experience, so Gift Aid does not apply to the ticket price. If you would like to capture Gift Aid on the night, set up a separate optional donation ask (a bucket at the door, for example) where supporters receive nothing in return for the extra amount, and collect Gift Aid declarations.

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8. Chilli cook-off competition

When the temperature drops, there is no better way to warm a crowd than a chilli cook-off. This is a firm favourite among food fundraising ideas and works especially well for autumn and winter events, bonfire-night gatherings, and community halls looking to fill a weeknight slot.

Encourage people to enter the competition with their own unique chilli dishes. Charge an admission fee for supporters who want to taste and vote for the best entry.

Award prizes and trophies to the winners. You can create several categories to make the judging even more fun. Some ideas for categories:

• The spiciest chilli

• Best vegetarian chilli

• The meatiest chilli

• Best chicken chilli

• Best white chilli

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Food fundraising ideas for families and younger supporters

Involving children and families in raising funds for your charity is an excellent way to spread awareness across the wider community. Here are some ideas for getting families involved and broadening your supporter base.

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9. Cooking class

A cooking class fundraiser is a great way to bring people together around food and raise money for a good cause. Invite a local chef or a skilled volunteer from your organisation to host the session.

Set an entry fee for participants. After the class, everyone sits down to enjoy the food they have prepared. The funds raised can cover the cost of ingredients, equipment, and any room hire, with the remainder going to your cause.

Other ways to make the cooking class a success:

• Offer multiple class options to cater to different skill levels and dietary preferences.

• Invite local food writers or social media food creators to promote the event and attract more participants.

• Share printed or digital recipe booklets so participants can recreate the dishes at home.

• Organise a raffle or auction with cookery-related prizes to raise additional funds. (Remember: if tickets are sold in advance, register the raffle as a small society lottery with your local council.)

• Partner with local suppliers or grocery stores for ingredient sponsorships.

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10. Guess the sweets in the jar

This is one of the easiest food fundraising ideas and is particularly popular with children.

Fill some jars with different types of sweets, such as nougats, gummy bears, fruit jellies, chocolates, and lollipops. Then host a guessing game and invite children and adults to estimate how many sweets are inside. Extra touches to make it more exciting:

• Use a variety of jar sizes to keep participants guessing.

• Offer bonus prizes for the most creative or entertaining guesses.

• Ask a local sweet shop if they would like to donate the sweets and get involved.

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11. Pancake Day fundraiser

Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) is one of the UK's best-loved community occasions, and it hands your charity a ready-made theme complete with built-in enthusiasm from families, schools, and church groups. A Pancake Day fundraiser or pancake-race evening fits naturally into PTA events, church halls, and village communities.

Serve freshly made pancakes with a generous spread of toppings and let guests customise their own. Present classic options such as lemon and sugar, golden syrup, and jam alongside more adventurous choices like fresh fruit, whipped cream, and flavoured syrups made by volunteers.

Set up a DIY toppings bar so guests can build their own combinations. Encourage volunteers to show off their skills by making specialty jams, fruit compotes, or flavoured syrups to sell as extras.

Charge an admission fee and offer takeaway containers for any leftovers. For a classic British twist, organise a pancake race between teams, with a small entry fee per team.

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Food fundraising ideas for schools

Get the whole school community involved with these food fundraisers designed for PTAs, school councils, and parent volunteers.

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12. Lemonade stand

A classic school fundraising idea is setting up a lemonade stand. This works brilliantly on a warm sports day, and you can charge per cup to raise funds for the school.

Have pupils run the lemonade stand and involve them in decorating it and making promotional flyers. Adding a competitive element can increase the fun: host a contest between different year groups and award prizes to the class that sells the most cups.

Let pupils create their own unique twists on lemonade recipes. Offering a variety of flavours, such as strawberry or peach, and adding fresh fruit slices or mint leaves gives every stand something distinctive. Do not forget to offer sugar-free options for health-conscious customers.

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13. Eating contest and food tasting

A food-tasting fundraiser is a popular way to raise money while bringing real energy to your school or community event.

Choose an open-air venue such as a playing field or school recreation ground and organise food-related competitions, including a pie-eating contest. Sell stall pitches to local food businesses that want to display their products or baked goods.

An eating contest is also an excellent way to unite the school community. Challenge pupils to participate and charge an entry fee per category. Serve drinks alongside the food to complement the event and raise additional funds.

To elevate your food-tasting fundraiser, consider adding a theme such as "Around the World" or "Taste of the Town." Showcase a range of cuisines and partner with local restaurants or street food stalls to provide samples. Add cooking demonstrations or workshops led by local chefs to give attendees something to take home beyond the food.

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14. Pizza party

Who does not enjoy pizza? When it comes to food fundraising ideas for schools, a pizza party is an excellent choice.

Partner with an affordable local pizzeria to organise a successful pizza-party fundraiser. Agree on how the profits will be shared and clarify any additional costs before the event. Charge participants per slice and ask the pizzeria for discounts on bulk purchases. Include gluten-free and vegan options to accommodate all preferences.

Alternatively, approach pizza shops that offer discount vouchers. Sell the vouchers to raise funds and share the agreed earnings with the shop after the event.

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Fancy food fundraising ideas

While street food stalls are popular fundraising fixtures, a more sophisticated event can be equally practical. Here are some elevated ideas to take your food fundraising to the next level.

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15. Cheese and wine evening

A cheese and wine evening is an elegant and classy food fundraising event that suits mid-to-large charities, arts organisations, and community groups with a more formal supporter base.

Charge a higher ticket price to cover the cost of wine and artisan cheese while still raising funds for your cause.

Alcohol licensing. Before selling wine at your event, you need a licence. If your venue does not already hold a premises licence covering the sale of alcohol, apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) from your local council at least 10 working days before the event. A TEN costs £21 (verify the current fee on gov.uk before applying) and covers events of up to 499 people for up to 168 hours. The same requirement applies if wine is included in the ticket price rather than sold separately. The organiser accepts personal responsibility for compliance. All attendees must be 18 or over.

Present five or six different wines, which you can source from local vineyards or wine merchants. They may be willing to sponsor the event in exchange for promotional opportunities. Offer a selection of accompaniments beyond cheese, such as:

• Charcuterie boards with cured meats, olives, and crackers

• Bruschetta or crostini topped with tomatoes, pesto, or other flavourful spreads

• Skewers of grilled vegetables or fruit

• Bite-sized desserts such as chocolate truffles or fruit tarts

Set the mood with a tasteful table setting, soft lighting, and background music. Invite a wine expert to share their knowledge and lead the tasting. Guests can mingle, chat about their favourite wines, and enjoy a memorable evening.

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16. Gala dinner night

Another classic food fundraiser, gala dinners are an ideal option for mid-to-large charities looking to raise significant funds in a single evening.

Host a sophisticated dinner for existing and new supporters, complete with live music, a silent auction, and a programme of entertainment. A raffle on the night can also add excitement for your guests.

Regulatory note. Any raffle where tickets are sold and drawn entirely on the night is an incidental non-commercial lottery under the Gambling Act 2005 and requires no registration. A separate silent or live auction of donated goods is not a lottery and needs no Gambling Commission registration. Ticket revenue and raffle-ticket revenue on the night are not Gift Aid eligible. A separate donation ask (a bucket collection, a pledge card, or a text-to-donate prompt during the evening) is Gift Aid eligible if donors are UK taxpayers and provide a declaration.

Organising a large-scale dinner requires a team effort. Recruit volunteers to help you find a venue, caterers, and decorators well in advance.

Alcohol licensing. If the venue does not hold a premises licence, apply for a TEN from your local council at least 10 working days before the event. See the Temporary Event Notice guidance on gov.uk.

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17. Cookbook fundraiser

Cookbook fundraisers are a practical idea for charities and not-for-profit organisations of all sizes.

Ask your team, trustees, and volunteers to contribute their favourite family recipes to create your cookbook. Sell it to your supporters and raise funds throughout the year, not just at a single event.

Another approach is to collaborate with a local chef and invite them to share their recipes. Take pre-orders for the cookbook, use the proceeds from pre-orders to cover printing costs, and direct the rest to your cause.

With Zeffy's free online shop for charities, you can set up a simple shop to sell your cookbooks, reach a wider audience, accept secure payments, and manage your stock. You can also auction cookbooks donated by volunteers or community members. Ensure all donated books are in good condition before selling.

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Cash is fading: make card payments work at your event

One of the most consistent themes from UK community fundraisers is that donors simply do not carry cash any more. Village halls, PTAs, and small community groups often find they are set up only for cash at the door and losing sales as a result. The good news is that tap-to-pay from a mobile phone has removed the hardware barrier entirely. A volunteer with a phone can accept contactless donations and card payments at a bake-sale table, an entry desk, or a raffle-ticket point with no card reader to hire or set up. Get this in place before your event so your trustees and volunteers understand the payout process.

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Why food fundraising continues to succeed

Food fundraisers remain the most popular community fundraising format because they appeal to almost everyone. Good food combined with community involvement creates an atmosphere that draws people towards your cause and keeps them coming back.

Here is why food fundraisers work so reliably:

• Universal appeal: From sweet to savoury, food fundraisers offer something for everyone.

• Lasting experiences: The memories created at a well-run food event help bind a community together long after the night itself.

• Ease: Most food fundraisers require only straightforward planning. Even smaller organisations with limited volunteer capacity can run them successfully.

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18. Themed food nights

A themed food night is one of the most effective ways to drive attendance and encourage participation. Themes that work well for UK community groups include:

• "Great British curry night" (the UK's most popular takeaway cuisine)

• "Sunday roast supper"

• "Afternoon tea"

• "Ploughman's lunch"

• "Italian night"

• "Around the World"

Charge an entrance fee and offer dishes relevant to your theme. You can also add:

• Costumes and decorations that create an unforgettable atmosphere.

• Music that connects to the theme's culture.

• Cooking demonstrations of rare or regional recipes.

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19. Farmers' market fundraiser

Collaborate with local farmers and producers and set up a farmers' market. Sell fruit, vegetables, baked items, and speciality goods.

Make the event more engaging by including:

• Live music.

• Cooking demonstrations using seasonal ingredients.

• Children's activities such as face painting or craft stalls.

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20. Street food rally

A street food rally gathers local street food vans and traders in one place for an afternoon or evening of food, community, and fundraising. Church car parks, school playgrounds, and village greens all make excellent venues.

Stall safety. Before confirming any pitch, verify that each stallholder holds a valid Food Hygiene Rating (FHRS) and adequate public-liability insurance. Charge each trader a pitch fee in £ to raise funds for your cause.

Tips for a successful event:

• Partner with popular and well-known local traders.

• Promote the event on social media, including each trader's menu.

• Set up picnic areas so guests can sit and enjoy their food.

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21. Specialty dessert auction

Host an auction featuring high-end desserts from local bakeries or talented amateur bakers. Items could include:

• Gourmet cakes and cupcakes.

• Handcrafted chocolates.

• Artisan pastries.

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22. Healthy food fundraiser

Appeal to health-conscious supporters with nutritious options. This might include:

• Smoothie stands with fresh fruit and healthy protein additions.

• Salad bars with a wide range of toppings.

• Gluten-free and vegan bake stalls.

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23. Pop-up restaurant

Turn any community space into a temporary restaurant. Partner with local chefs or a local catering college whose students want to gain experience. Prepare a set menu in advance and sell tickets ahead of time.

Tips for a smooth event:

• A single set menu simplifies preparation and reduces waste.

• Live entertainment enhances the dining experience.

• Table sponsorships from local businesses add an extra income stream.

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Ready to put these ideas into action?

Selling tickets and taking payments should be the easy part of organising a food fundraiser. Zeffy's free ticketing platform lets UK charities and community groups set up an event page in minutes, sell tickets online, and keep 100% of what they raise. No platform fee, no transaction fee, ever.

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Frequently asked questions

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