Recession-hit Brits are still making charity donations

Britons remain committed to giving money to charity despite the recession, a report has claimed.

Three-quarters of people who had donated money to charity during the past three years said they had given the same amount during 2009, while 5% had increased the amount they donated.

One in 10 people said they gave money to charity on a weekly basis, while 56% make donations at least once a month, according to the report by credit card provider MBNA.

Around 37% of people said they had continued donating this year because they felt it was more important than ever to give money to good causes, and only 1% said they had stopped giving money.

Eight out of 10 people also said they were giving the same or more to charity this Christmas, either through buying charity items or attending charitable events, with 17% saying at least a quarter of their Christmas budget would be spent on charity goods.

Six out of 10 donors said giving money to charity made them feel happy, with 25% each saying it made them feel generous or reflective. Only 7% of people said they felt guilty when they gave money.

John Greaves, spokesman for MBNA, said: "The findings make heartening reading for charities at the end of a difficult year.

"What is clear is that the majority of UK givers are deeply committed to the causes they support, feel happy when they give and, most importantly, are determined to continue their efforts."

Women are nearly twice as likely to give money to charity as men, accounting for 63% of all people who have given money during the past three years.

They are also more likely to donate items, buy charity endorsed products and volunteer than men are.

But 45% of women said they had found it difficult to give in the current economic climate, compared with 33% of men.

Only 6% of people have a charity credit card, through which a percentage of the value of all purchases is donated to charity by the card issuer, despite 79% of respondents having a credit card.