# Britons are "kind but apathetic charity givers", says survey

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/08/04/britons-are-quotkind-apathetic-charity-giversquot-says-survey/
- Published: 2005-08-04T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

A survey for Samaritans into charitable giving has found that Britons are well-meaning
but not generous. Donors would give just £4.22 to save their favourite charity from
closing, about the cost of two high street cups of coffee.
The survey by NoP for
Samaritans shows that people give when there is a crisis or celebrity involvement
but not regularly to charity. Even if they donate on these occasions many do not
plan to do so again.

The survey findings, which questioned over 1000 men and women across England and
Scotland, also show that although 81% of Britons donated to the Tsunami appeal, 
only 10% of those who gave for the first time will give more to charity as a result
and a worrying one in six actually expect to give less.

Chief executive with Samaritans, David King, said, “These findings show what Samaritans
already knows: that we all have good intentions, but it often takes a celebrity 
or a significant media event to highlight a cause and remind people to donate to
charity.”

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More than half the people surveyed said that they would give £6 if Samaritans was
at risk of closing.

People in the North are more generous to charity than those in the south, according
to the survey; and once again, it is confirmed that those who are poorer are more
generous than the rich.

Other findings from the survey include:

* women are more charitable with 45% giving to charity each month, compared with
only 45% of men

* 1 in 5 of men (19%) does not give to charity at all compared with 16% of women

* those with a household income of under £25,000 were also revealed as those willing
to give the most to keep their favourite charity open if it were facing closure 
due to insufficient funds; 43% said they would be willing to donate up to £5 a month.

* older people are more generous with 50% of those over 65 giving to charity regularly.
In contrast 24% of younger people aged 15-24 have never given to charity.

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