About Charity Street Scotland

For the first time we have been able to chart the use of charities by millions of Scottish people. What our research shows is that nine in ten people across the country have used a charity whether for advice, support, help in times of need, or just somewhere to visit for a day out.

Our second Scotland Giving report earlier this year showed once again the extraordinary generosity of Scots, who gave an estimated £1.2billion to good causes in 2017. This research shows how much that generosity matters to people’s everyday lives.

Key findings from Charity Street Scotland

  • The use of charity is widespread with nine in ten Scottish households having used a charity at some point, and four in five having used a charity service in the last 12 months.

  • Better off households are more likely to have used a charity service overall, those of social classes ABC1 are also more likely to have used a number of specific services.

  • Younger people aged 18-24 use on average more charitable services in the last 12 months (5.3), with the number decreasing the older you are, reaching 2.2 on average amongst those aged 65+.

  • Households which use charities perceive a wide range of benefits to doing so, most commonly this is having an enjoyable / fun experience (19%), receiving emotional support or counselling from a charity service (16%) or legal advice or support (16%).

  • People are often not aware they are using a charity with 27% unaware that the service they or someone in their household had used was provided by a charity. Younger people aged 18-34 were the most likely to be unaware, at 34%.

  • Charities are best placed and most trusted to speak on behalf of the disadvantaged with 68% believing that charities were best placed to speak on behalf of disadvantaged people to government to help influence government policies.