DONATIONS TO ARMED FORCES CHARITIES SURGE, WHILE GIVING TO OTHER CHARITIES DIPS
2 July 2012
Donations to charities established to support Britain’s Armed
Forces have leapt by more than 25% since 2008, according to new
figures published to coincide with Armed Forces Day on Saturday (30
June).
Analysis by the Charities Aid Foundation shows that giving to
Armed Forces charities was up by 26.2% in real terms between
2008-2010, while donations to all other large charities dropped by
an aggregate of 4.3% over the same period.
The Charities Aid Foundation, which promotes charitable giving
and provides financial services and social finance to
not-for-profit organisations, analysed the published financial
returns of 32 charities that support servicemen and women for the
period between 2008-2010 – the latest years for which figures are
available.
It found that the average donations to the major Armed Forces
charities has increased substantially – while giving to other big
charities has dipped.
The increase in giving to charities, such as Help for Heroes, reflects
increased concern for military personnel serving in Afghanistan and
Iraq, and for those returning home.
The marked trend comes against the backdrop of the latest
UK Giving
report, published last December by the Charities Aid Foundation
and National Council for Voluntary Organisations. This long-running
survey of the UK public showed that while 1.1m more people gave to
charity in 2010/11 – almost 30m in all – the total amount donated
remained static in real terms at £11bn.
Among those Armed Forces charities experiencing a surge in
donations is Help for Heroes, founded in 2007, to help wounded,
injured and sick servicemen and women returning from current
conflicts. Its donations have risen by 181% from 2008-2010.
ABF The Soldier’s Charity,
which offers lifetime support to serving soldiers and veterans, has
seen donations increase by 58%.
Meanwhile, a smaller Armed Forces charity, Support Our Soldiers,
which sends care parcels to those on the frontline, has seen its
income increase by 87%.
Richard Harrison, Director of Research, at the Charities Aid
Foundation, said: “Armed Forces charities do amazing work for
serving soldiers and veterans, and for their families. They have
touched the hearts of the many people who want to do something to
support those who have fought in the long-running conflicts in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
“People across the country have been moved by the work of the
armed forces, and by the harrowing stories of military personnel
who do a very difficult job, in incredibly difficult
circumstances.
“The surge in donations to Armed Forces charities shows that –
even in these tough economic times – people will rally round to
support a cause they really care about.”
The analysis by the Charities Aid Foundation on giving to Armed
Forces charities is based on the published annual returns of
charitable organisations registered in England and Wales.
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