The annual UK Giving report suggests political upheavals have not dented donations
The UK Giving report for the Charities Aid Foundation finds that, in the wake of major political developments over the past year, charitable giving has remained steady, with donations totalling £9.7 billion. Additionally, month-by-month surveys carried out since the EU referendum last June shows no shift in people’s reported giving.
The data suggests that the vote to leave the European Union has not directly affected donations. In fact, there has been a ‘Brexit-effect’ on other types of support, including volunteering and campaigning, which have both risen since last June's referendum.
In 2016, almost nine in ten people (89%) did something charitable compared to around eight in ten (79%) in 2015 - an increase of ten percentage points in a year. The report finds that more than six in ten donated money (61%) while over half gave goods to charity (56%).
YouGov's research for CAF shows that medical research charities are the ones people are most likely to give to (26%). This was followed closely by animal welfare (25%) and children and young people's (24%) charities.
The research suggests there are large demographic splits when it comes to giving. Men are less likely than women to to donate, with 14% of men having not participated in any charitable activity compared to 8% of women. Older people are more likely than the young to contribute money, with 68% of those aged 65+ having donated in the past year, compared to 54% of 16-24 year olds. However, the research highlights that young people are more likely to volunteer, sign a petition or take part in a public demonstration or protest.
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