# Insights into public engagement with good causes during & post-lockdown revealed

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/05/10/insights-into-public-engagement-with-good-causes-during-post-lockdown-revealed/
- Published: 2021-05-10T09:55:37+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The pandemic has prompted younger audiences both to give more as well as for the
first time, according to research by global agency Blue State, while overall people
are keen to return to charity shops, volunteering, and raising money for good causes
post-lockdown.**

[Blue State](https://www.bluestate.co/eu/) questioned 1,494 individuals in the UK
during April, when the country was still in lockdown, and just before non-essential
retail was allowed to reopen in England, to find out how people have engaged with
good causes during the pandemic and how they plan to engage moving forward, post-
pandemic.

Overall, in the past year the survey found:

## Advertisement

 * 45% have given a one-off donation online

 * 43% have made a charity shop purchase

 * 42% have signed a petition

 * 39% have bought fair trade products from the supermarket

 * 34% have given a one off cash, credit or cheque donation

 * 30% have bought a pin, badge or other charity merchandise

 * 18% gave to a street collector

In terms of causes donated to over the past year, 18% started giving or increased
their donations to their local communities, while 16% started or increased their
giving to national causes, and 7% did so to help people in developing countries.

This was particularly the case among younger audiences, with over 20% of 18-24 year
olds starting or increasing giving to their local communities, as well as to national
causes, and nearly 15% to help people in developing countries. Similarly, amongst
25-34 year olds and 35-44 year olds, over 20% also started or increased giving to
their local communities, while just under this among 25-34 year olds did the same
with national causes.

#### Post-lockdown engagement

Looking forwards, the study also found that 93% of those surveyed intend to return
to charity shops, 60% see themselves volunteering now or in the future, and 50% 
raising money by selling something at an event, such as baking cakes. Four out of
five of those who have previously given face-to-face say they see themselves doing
so again.

More people are also open to taking part in protests or demonstrations. While in
2019, around 6% of people had taken part in a protest in the past year, this study
showed that 32% of people see themselves attending a protest or public demonstration
now or in the future.

Lizi Zipser, director of global strategy and insights at Blue State commented: 

> “This research paints a picture of a nation whose relationship to charity and 
> giving has been transformed and strengthened by the pandemic.
>  
> “Young people – a group perceived as not engaged with giving – is now growing 
> fast. And people are both willing and eager to mobilise and take part in demonstrations
> and protests at a rate we have never seen before.
>  
> “Charities across the UK should take note, and continue using digital channels
> to supplement the drop in face-to-face interactions. Giving has grown during the
> pandemic, and we are becoming a more generous nation. We need to continue inspiring
> those wishing to create impact in the world to donate, mobilise and continue this
> generosity as we ease out of this crisis.
>  
> “There’s no business-as-usual fundraising, so charities need to evolve to adapt
> as we move out of the pandemic.”

The full report can be found [here](https://www.bluestate.co/news/uk-charitable-behaviours/).