Cash remains most popular way of giving though 18-24 year olds prefer online giving and are more influenced by social media than TV appeals
One in four people in Britain have made a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Nepal Earthquake Appeal in the two weeks since it launched.
Figures released by DEC show that in the first fortnight of the appeal over £50 million has been donated. This compares to £34m raised during the first three months of the DEC Ebola appeal.
Overall, cash has been the most common means of giving followed by online channels and text giving, though 18-24 year olds were more likely to make online donations with 56% of this age group having done so.
Research carried out by Populus on behalf of the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) found the large number of people impacted and the belief that international aid is essential for the disaster are the key drivers for people donating with 55% and 54% respectively citing these reasons for supporting the appeal.
The opinion poll, which was carried out just before news of a second earthquake broke earlier this week, found that people aged between 25 and 34 were most likely to have made a donation with 32% in that age group having done so.
People across the UK are again showing their huge generosity and willingness to support the sterling efforts of charities to support people in need at times of crisis
Of those who have donated, television was the most influential media channel with 42% stating that TV coverage most influenced them to donate, however in the 18-24 year olds online social networking sites were almost doubly influential than television.
John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said previous CAF research has highlighted that people are more willing to donate when an emergency is seen as ‘beyond human control', such as an earthquake or tsunami, rather than a humanitarian crisis caused by war or conflict.
He added: “The graphic scenes of devastation from Nepal we have witnessed in the news have been heartbreaking to watch.
“British people have a proud history of stepping in to help others around the world in a time of need.
“This research shows that people across the UK are again showing their huge generosity and willingness to support the sterling efforts of charities to support people in need at times of crisis.”
Early indications following the second earthquake which hit eastern Nepal are that at least 76 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured. It followed the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck on 25 April killing over 8,000 and affecting the lives of at least 8 million people.
