Local giving: bringing community insight into Parliament

Local giving in the heart of Westminster

In June 2026, CAF held its second annual parliamentary drop-in event at Portcullis House.

The event was attended by 16 MPs and parliamentary staff from across the political spectrum, who were briefed on constituency-level data from CAF's UK Local Giving report, helping them better understand patterns of generosity, community connection and charitable engagement in the places they represent.

Through the session we highlighted ways that MPs can support giving locally – from engaging with community foundations and place-based giving initiatives, to convening local philanthropists and championing the positive impact of charities in their communities.

CAF's local giving research

CAF's research helps build a detailed picture of charitable giving in the UK.

While the wider environment for giving remains challenging, with fewer people donating than a decade ago and total donations falling in recent years, our local giving research shows what can encourage people to give.

The UK Local Giving Report reveals that generosity varies significantly across the country, and that the communities who give the most generously are not always the wealthiest.

Where people feel a stronger sense of local pride, they are more likely to be generous and engaged. People who see charities having a positive impact in their local area are twice as likely to donate locally and three times as likely to volunteer.

These findings matter because they show that local giving shaped by more than income. For charities, they point to the importance of visibility, trust and local connection. For donors and businesses, they can help identify opportunities to support communities in ways that strengthen both local pride and long-term impact.