According to research from YouGov’s latest white paper “What motivates charitable giving?” young people aged from 16 to 24 are more likely to have volunteered or signed an online petition within the past year than older generations
One fifth (20%) of 16 to 24 year olds have volunteered for a charity over the past year compared with 16% of the population as a whole, while more than half (53%) of young people have signed an online petition (versus 49% of all British adults). Students make up the majority (51%) of young volunteers.
Young people’s charity beliefs
In terms of their wider attitudes to charity, young people are less likely than the general population to support a ban on street fundraising. Almost seven in ten (69%) Brits think charities should be banned from approaching potential donors in the street, compared with just 36% of 18 to 24 year olds.
Young people also support peaceful protesting and believe it can be a catalyst for change. While just over a third (36%) of the general public agree with Extinction Rebellion’s recent actions to ‘shut down London’ to raise awareness of climate change, this increases to 45% of 18 to 24 year olds. More than half (54%) of this age group believe that protest marches can sometimes or often achieve their purpose, compared with 40% of all British adults.
The difference in attitudes between the generations could indicate that people become more cynical with age and could go some way to explaining why older people are less likely to actively volunteer.
Download the white paper to learn more about young people’s charity perceptions and how they can be engaged.
