Detailed findings part 2

Here we reveal the total amount of money donated to charity in Wales in 2018, and discuss the typical amount given. We look at the most popular types of charity donated to, and how people give.  Our research also reveals how people are being asked to give and crucially, their trust in charity.
wales giving 2019 454m donaqted
     

Total amount of giving

An estimated £454 million was donated to charity by those living in Wales in 2018. This compares to a total UK figure of £10.1 billion over the same period. The level in Wales therefore accounts for around 4.5% of overall individual giving across the UK.

It is important to note that the Wales Giving estimate for total giving is calculated from reported giving, as re-called and relayed by individual survey participants, and so is subject to respondent reliability, as well as other considerations that apply to all surveys based on a sample of a population rather than a census.

   
Typical amount given

The median(1) monthly amount given by a donor within Wales in 2018, either donating or sponsoring in the last four weeks, was £15, while the mean amount given was £36. These are both below the figures for the UK as a whole, where the median(2) was £20 and the mean was £45.

This means that although similar numbers of people are giving in Wales as across the UK as a whole, people in Wales are giving lower amounts. This is likely to be, at least in part, due to lower levels of average salary in Wales compared to the UK as a whole (£509 median gross weekly earnings for full time employees vs. a UK average of £569 in 2018).

(1)Median = middle value of all amounts given by individuals. (2)Mean = average amount given across all individuals.

What people donate to

When people were asked which cause area they had given to in the last four weeks, the top five causes are medical research 30%, animal welfare 29%, children and young people 23%, homelessness, shelters and refuges 20%, and overseas aid and disaster relief 16%.
                  
Figure 3: Which of the following causes did you donate to?
    
figure 3 Wales causes medical
figure 3 Wales causes animal
figure 3 Wales causes children
figure 3 Wales causes homeless
figure 3 Wales causes overseas

Base: All adults 16+ who have donated to a charity in the the last 4 weeks (n=444)

Most and least popular causes

Four cause areas all received 20% or above in support in 2018: medical research (30%), animal welfare (29%), children and young people (23%, homeless people, housing and refuge shelters in the UK (20%). There was then a drop off to the fifth largest cause, with 16% having donated to overseas aid and disaster relief.
  
The least popular causes given to by those in Wales are sports and recreation (1%), arts (1%), schools, colleges, universities and other education (5%) and elderly people (6%). This again is a similar pattern to the UK as a whole.

Who gives to what?

Animal welfare charities are the most popular cause for women to give to in Wales (37% vs. 19% men), seeing similar figures to the UK as a whole (31% women vs. 20% men).

Whilst there are relatively few demographic differences in terms of who gives to what causes across Wales, those aged 65+ are more likely to give to medical research, with 39% of 65+ year olds giving compared to a low of 22% of 25–44 year olds and 30% on average.