Brits want to give more to charity

A survey published by the Charities Aid Foundation has found that we think we should be much more charitable than in fact we are. Nearly one third (29%) of us believe we should all aim to give two per cent or more of our income to charity each year.

The survey of 2002 GB adults, carried out by YouGov, also found that more than one in ten of us (12%) think we should aim to be much more philanthropic and give as much as five to ten per cent of our total income to charity each year. This would mean somebody earning the national average salary of £24,908.00 giving between £1245.40 and £2490.80 every year. In contrast 42% of people think we should give less than two per cent of income to charity with seven per cent thinking we shouldn't give anything at all.

The amount people think they should give is much higher than most are actually giving. Last year 74% of those surveyed gave between zero and £100.00. Only one per cent gave more than one thousand pounds to charity.

Sheila Hooper, Director of Individual Giving for the Charities Aid Foundation said; "As many are feeling the pinch at the moment with house prices falling and household bills rising it is really heartening to see so many people think we should be giving more money to charity. I hope they will turn these charitable thoughts into actions. If everybody gave two per cent many more charities could fulfil their aims whether that is to relieve suffering, save the planet, or help any one of the other thousands of good and deserving causes here in the UK and around the world."