Only 7 per cent of people give loose change to charity

Nearly half of respondents say they would donate spare cash if collection boxes were more accessible.

Only 7 per cent of people donate loose change to charity, according to a survey commissioned by Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The research company ICM Research surveyed more than 2,000 demographically representative adults in the UK and found that, while 57 per cent of them carried £1 to £10 of loose change with them at any time, only 7 per cent donated any of this to charity.

The survey found that people might donate more of this money to charity if giving was made easier.

Forty-four per cent of respondents said they would give more if collection boxes were made more accessible. Supermarkets were the most likely to be named as the best places for collection boxes, with 48 per cent of people saying so, followed by local shops on 19 per cent and the workplace on 11 per cent.

People aged over 65 were found to be the most generous age group, with 39 per cent saying they donated money to charity every month. People aged from 18 to 24 gave the least, with only 19 per cent saying they did so.

RMHC, which provides accommodation for families to stay close to their sick children in hospital, has launched a campaign called Your Change Changes Lives, which calls on people to give loose change to charity.

Jon Haward, director of Ronald McDonald House Charities said: "People often carry quite a lot of loose change around with them, but only a fraction of those we surveyed currently consider donating any of this to charity – perhaps because they consider their contribution to be too small to make a difference. Highlighting this will help to encourage the general public to consider giving some of this change to charity."

Article posted on Third Sector Online, by Sophie Hudson, , 3 June 2011