Charity donations down by almost 10 per cent last year as donor numbers fall to record low
UK Giving, published by the Charities Aid Foundation, shows the British public donated an estimated £14bn in 2025, down from £15.4bn in the previous year.
It is the first fall in the total given since 2021 and the decline was partly driven by the value of the average donation dropping from £72 in 2024 to £65 last year.
But the annual report, which is based on research conducted with almost 13,000 people, also shows a significant decline over the past decade in the number of people who donated to charity.
Last year’s UK Giving report showed that while total donations had increased, the number of donors had fallen to a record low.
The latest report notes that in 2016, an estimated 37 million people, equivalent to 69 per cent of adults, donated or sponsored someone during the year.
But today’s research shows this has fallen to about 31 million people, or 55 per cent of adults, in 2025.
The calculations, which take into account the increase in population size, show that charities have lost an average of about 600,000 donors per year – missing out on an estimated £12.4bn over the same period if previous levels had been sustained.
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Former BBC presenter leaves charity ambassador role after bullying claims
The former BBC broadcaster Kaye Adams is no longer an ambassador of a family support charity after she left her radio show following claims of bullying behaviour.
Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire said it was grateful for the contribution Adams made to supporting families and volunteers across its communities.
“Kaye Adams was an ambassador for Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire for 12 years,” the charity’s statement said.
“During that time, she was a great supporter of the charity, helping to raise both funds and the profile of the organisation locally and nationally.
“Her passion, enthusiasm and understanding of our work was always evident.”
The charity declined to comment on why Adams was no longer an ambassador.
It comes after Adams was suspended from her Mornings With show on BBC Radio Scotland in October.
The broadcaster faced allegations of swearing at colleagues and losing her temper, and was let go from her show after an internal investigation, according to The Times newspaper.
It reported that an internal inquiry upheld three complaints but found others to be unsubstantiated.
Adams strongly denied any wrongdoing in a statement.
She said: “I’m aware of malicious stories circulating about the reasons for my departure from BBC Scotland.
“I’ve tried to keep a dignified silence but these attacks on my character are now so persistent, they can no longer go unchallenged.”
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Oxfam GB reveals interim chief executive
Richard Hawkes has been appointed as the interim chief executive of Oxfam GB after the acrimonious departure of the charity’s previous leader.
Hawkes, who has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the voluntary sector, most recently led the British Asian Trust for 10 years before stepping down in December.
He has also been chief executive of the disability charities Scope and Sense International, was the programme director at Voluntary Services Overseas and was chair of the NGO umbrella body Bond.
Oxfam’s previous chief executive, Halima Begum, was forced to step down from the role in December, after staff raised concerns about the charity’s culture under her leadership.
She has since filed an employment tribunal claim alleging discrimination and victimisation from the charity’s board and former chair.
Hawkes, who has been hired on an initial 12-month term from the end of March, said Oxfam had a “tremendous impact” around the world and inspired “deep affection” among the UK public.
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