Key findings:
- 52% of UK adults have donated goods to charity in the past 12 months.
- 47% have bought something from a charity shop, while 43% have personally donated money.
- Among those who donated money, 51% made one-off donations only, while 26% combined one-off and regular giving.
- 56% of UK adults say they are likely to donate money to charity in the next 12 months.
For UK charities, understanding how people support causes goes beyond direct monetary donations. People also contribute by donating goods, shopping at charity shops, volunteering, fundraising and supporting campaigns.
In the first of a three-part series on charitable giving in the UK, YouGov looks at how adults have supported charities over the past 12 months, how giving differs across demographic groups and whether people expect to donate money over the year ahead.
How do UK adults support charities?
Over half of UK adults (52%) say they have donated goods to charity in the past 12 months – such as giving items to a charity shop, food bank or toy campaign – making this the most common activity measured.
Charity shops also attract considerable participation as a place to donate through purchases, with 47% saying they have bought something from one during the same period. Monetary donations follow closely behind, with 43% personally donating money to charity.
Other forms of support are less common. Three in ten (30%) have sponsored someone, while 15% have shared or promoted a charity appeal or campaign online. One in ten have volunteered for a charity (10%), fundraised for one (10%) or donated money through their workplace (10%). Overall, 15% say they have done none of the activities asked about.
Who is most likely to donate to charity in the UK?
Women report higher participation across several of the most common activities, being more likely to donate goods (61% vs 42%) and buy something from a charity shop (56% vs 38%). Women are also more likely to have personally donated money (46% vs. 40%).
Age differences are particularly pronounced for donations. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of adults aged 55 and over have donated goods, compared with 25% of 18-24-year-olds. Similarly, 57% of those aged 55 and over have donated money, more than double the 23% recorded among 18-24-year-olds.
The age gap is narrower for charity-shop purchases, ranging from 40% among 18-24-year-olds to 53% among those aged 55 and over. Volunteering follows a different pattern: 14% of 18-24-year-olds have volunteered for a charity, compared with 9-10% across the other age groups.
One-off vs regular charity donations: How UK donors give money
Among UK adults who have donated money to charity in the past 12 months, around half (51%) say they just made one-off donations. A fifth (21%) made regular donations only – such as monthly contributions – while 26% used both methods.
Looking at those who made monetary donations, younger people lean more towards one-off giving. Seven in ten (70%) aged 18-24 just made single donations, compared with 43% of those aged 55 and over. In contrast, this older group are more likely than the younger cohort to make regular donations (22% vs 15%) and make to make both regular and one-off donations (34% vs 11%).
Will UK adults donate to charity in the next 12 months?
Looking ahead, 56% of UK adults say they are likely to donate money to charity between now and August 2027, including 34% who say they are very likely to do so. Around a quarter (23%) say they are unlikely to donate.
Women are more likely than men to expect to donate over the coming year (60% vs. 52%) and intentions also vary by age. Fully 63% of adults aged 55 and over say they are likely to donate – including 44% who are very likely to do so – compared to 50% of 18-24-year-olds and 49% of those aged between 35 and 44 years old.
Overall, the data highlights the different ways UK adults engage with charities. While monetary donations remain widespread, donating goods and shopping at charity shops are also significant forms of support, and more than half of UK adults expect to donate money over the coming year.
Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provides quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. This study was conducted online between 19-20 August 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 2,097 adults (aged 18+ years) in Great Britain, using a questionnaire designed by YouGov. Data figures have been weighted by age, gender, education, region and social grade to be representative of all adults in Great Britain (18 years or older) and reflect the latest ONS population estimates.
Image: Getty Images
