But those who do give have been giving more

The number of people giving to charity in the UK is falling - with an estimated 1.6 million fewer people donating last year.

However, it’s also a mixed picture as those who did give gave more during the Covid pandemic, according to analysis of the last 18 months from the Charities Aid Foundation.

The UK Giving report - the country’s largest study of giving behaviour - found that 62% of people gave to charity last year through donations or sponsorship, dropping from 65% the previous year.

The number of people giving has been steadily declining since 2016 when 69% donated, but this latest drop is likely to have been fuelled by the large-scale cancellation of fundraising events during several lockdowns and ongoing social distancing measures.

However, donation levels remain low into 2021 even though most restrictions have lifted. 

As the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, those who did give, donated more than in the past. In any given month, people gave an average of £53.52 via donations or sponsorship, compared the £45.69 in 2019, even though one in three (36%) had personally experienced a decrease in their household’s disposable income because of the pandemic.

The average monthly donation has remained slightly higher in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic levels, with an average monthly donation of £49 from January to June, compared to £42 for the same period in 2019.

Donation levels were especially low during the 2020 festive period, which is usually the peak time of year for charitable giving. Last November, only 32% of people said they had given via donations or sponsorship in the past four weeks, a drop from 43% in November 2019. 

The giving trend by age group during the pandemic reflects the high levels of job insecurity, with younger people especially affected, as average donations (not including sponsorship) increased in 2020 amongst older adults and declined in younger adults. Those aged 55-64 gave an average monthly donation of £71 in 2020, compared to £45 the previous year. Although in previous years, donors aged 25-34 have given the largest donations, this declined from £50 in 2019 to £45 in 2020. For 16-24 year olds, the average monthly donation fell even more sharply, from £46 in 2019 to £29 in 2020.

The research found that an estimated £11.3 billion was given to charities in 2020, increasing from £10.6bn in 2019, driven by the surge in support for charities in response to the pandemic, with £5.4bn donated between January to June. Despite lockdown restrictions lifting, during the first half of 2021, this fell to an estimated £4.6bn.

Analysis shows (see below) that people give most to animal welfare charities (27%) and least to arts (3%) and sports organisations (2%).

Cash has traditionally been the most popular way for people to give to charity. However, against the backdrop of lockdowns, only 38% of donors gave with cash in 2020, compared to 51% the previous year, a trend which has continued into 2021 despite the gradual removal of restrictions. As little as 7% of donors used cash in January 2021, compared to 30- 40% in a typical January.

Last year saw an increase in donors using digital methods, such as via a website or app. This peaked in May 2020 when 35% gave via a website or app, compared to 9% who gave in cash. However, the numbers of people giving online has not been sustained, declining to 14% in August 2021.

The move online is clear amongst older donors; Of those between 55-64, a quarter (25%) gave via a website or app in 2020, compared with 17% in 2019. Amongst those aged over 65, 18% gave via a website or app in 2020, compared to 14% the previous year, and the proportion giving by debit card increased from 13% to 18%. 

Neil Heslop, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: “The stark decline in cash donations, the fledgling return to in-person fundraising events and the steady adoption of digital giving by the general public are all elements of this report that will inform charities to adapt and achieve more for the people they help.”

On the overall Giving Report, he said: “While we rightly celebrate a rise in the total amount given to charity over the course of 2020, there has been a worrying trend over the last five years that the number of people donating continues to decline, despite the tremendous generosity we have all witnessed during the pandemic. Although those who give are giving more, we know that for charities to survive and be there for those they help, they rely on mass giving.