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Britain is Still a 'Donation Nation'

New survey reveals Britons still committed to giving to charity despite the economic downturn

Immediate release: 21 July 2009

The economic downturn has not impacted on charitable giving in the UK, according to new findings out today. More than two thirds (68%) of Britons give money to their favourite cause on a monthly basis, says new research from eco car insurance provider, ibuyeco.

The survey found that a third of Brits give up to £5 on a monthly basis and around one in six donates between £5 and £10. A small yet significant number (6%) gives over £25 each month and, perhaps surprisingly, one in six has actually increased their level of gifting despite lower consumer confidence in recent months.*

12% of benevolent Brits have even given something up in order to be able to afford their monthly donations with many opting to forego items such as a bought sandwich at lunch, a takeaway coffee or a drink at the pub.

When asked which three types of charities need most assistance during an economic downturn, the causes that Britons consider most in need of support are:

  1. Children
  2. Health and wellbeing
  3. Poverty
  4. Animals
  5. Environment
  6. International aid
  7. Human rights

The survey was undertaken as the eco car insurance provider pledged to help three leading environmental charities by making a donation each and every time they sell or renew a policy. Since 18 June this year, when a car owner buys a new policy or renews their car insurance with ibuyeco, the company will make a £5 donation to either The Woodland Trust, Borneo Orangutan Survival or The Converging World. The charities were selected by existing ibuyeco customers.

Lucy Bailey, Head of ibuyeco, said: "We were really pleased to see that charitable donations in the UK have largely remained untouched by the recession. However, animal and environmental charities do seem to be further down the list of philanthropic priorities.

"That is why we are so proud to be supporting the three chosen eco-causes. Our customers not only get great value insurance but get to support charities who might be missing out in the current economic climate."

Other key findings from the research:

  • Wales and the North East are the least charitable areas while the West Midlands and East of England are the most willing to give aid
  • More than half of the charitable respondents said the main way they donate is either pay by monthly direct debit or via collection boxes
  • Whilst the '45 years and over' age bracket is most likely to donate, over half (53%) of 18 to 24 year-olds give to charity
  • Nearly three quarters (72%) of the female respondents give to charity compared with two thirds (66%) of the male respondents
  • Other cost-saving measures used by Britons to allow for charitable donations include spending less this Christmas, using the tumble drier less and cutting back on non-essentials such as knitting yarn and vehicle fuel