Charities across the UK are being asked to do more with less. The Charities Aid Foundation’s UK Giving Report 2026, published in March, shows how sharp the squeeze has become.
What the report found
- The public gave an estimated £14 billion in 2025, down from £15.4 billion in 2024. That is a fall of nearly 10%, and the first fall in five years.
- 55% of people gave to charity in 2025, down from 69% in 2016. That is around six million fewer donors.
- CAF estimates charities have missed out on £12.4 billion over the decade as donor numbers fell.
- The median donation fell from £28 to £26.
- 22% of people say they do not give because they cannot afford to.
CAF’s Managing Director, Mark Greer, said: “Giving falling by nearly 10% in a year will be a significant concern for charities up and down the country.”
Why it matters
Every pound lost is support that does not reach someone. For charities working with people on their mental health, addiction, homelessness or recovery, less income makes it harder to keep services running for everyone who needs them.
What still motivates people to give
The report also shows what keeps people giving: 78% of donors give for an emotional reason, such as caring about the cause, and 53% want to be part of something bigger. People want to see that their support makes a difference.
How businesses and individuals can help
- Give regularly. Direct debits and standing orders are already the most common way to give, and regular income helps charities plan.
- Give through work. Payroll giving, matched giving and charity partnerships can turn small amounts into lasting support.
- Give time and skills. Volunteering and pro bono help can be as valuable as money.
- Make impact visible. People want to see what their support achieves.
Where VYVE fits
VYVE is not a fundraising platform, and Give Back does not replace donations. Charities need cash to keep their doors open, and nothing we do changes that.
What Give Back does is add practical support at no cost to charities. Every 30 activities a VYVE member logs funds a free month of VYVE for someone referred by one of our charity partners, giving the people they support everyday help with their mind, body and connections, including after a charity’s own service ends. It costs our charity partners and the people they refer nothing, and it gives our members and their employers a visible way to be part of something bigger.
If you are a charity and this could help the people you support, find out about becoming a charity partner.
Sources: Charities Aid Foundation, Amount donated by British public falls for first time in five years, March 2026; UK Fundraising, Public donations down nearly 10%, March 2026.