29/04/2010 – Charitable giving in decline
The annual citizenship survey published by the Department for Communities and Local Government shows that despite official attempts to encourage it, charitable giving and volunteering has declined in England over the past five years.
The research also shows that levels of "civic engagement", which covers everything from signing a petition and contacting a politician or official to protesting, remains at 47% in 2008/09.
74% of people in 2008/09 said that they gave money to charity in the four weeks before the survey. For 2005 the figure was 78%.
The average donation, adjusted for inflation, remains at £17.70. Most giving is done through a direct debit or standing order or by buying a raffle ticket or something at a charity shop. Pub collections and giving to beggars on the street are both less common than in previous years.