New research from the Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, has revealed a significant increase in public trust in charities, marking the highest levels of confidence since 2014. This surge in trust comes against a backdrop of growing reliance on charitable services as the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact households across the UK.
The research indicates that public trust in charities now stands at 6.5 out of 10, up from 6.3 in 2023. This marks a substantial recovery from a low point of 5.5 in 2018, following a series of high-profile scandals that shook the sector. Notably, 58% of people reported “high” trust in charities, scoring them 7 out of 10 or higher, positioning charities as one of the most trusted groups in society, second only to doctors.
A key factor driving this trust is transparency. The research highlights that the most important consideration for the public is how charities spend their money. This is followed closely by the charity’s ability to achieve its purpose, make a tangible difference, and uphold high ethical standards. These findings underscore the critical role that clear communication and accountability play in maintaining public confidence.
Despite the positive trends in trust, the research paints a more complex picture of public engagement with charities. The data reveals a growing reliance on charitable services, with 9% of people reporting that they have received financial, food, or medical support from a charity. This figure has tripled from 3% in 2020, illustrating the increasing pressures faced by individuals and families amid rising living costs.
Conversely, there has been a notable decline in charitable giving. Only 47% of people reported donating money, goods, or raising funds for charity, down from 62% in 2020. This decline suggests that while more people are turning to charities for help, fewer are in a position to offer financial support, highlighting the financial strain on both donors and recipients.
The Charity Commission’s Chief Executive, David Holdsworth, commented on the findings, expressing both optimism and caution: “These findings are encouraging, demonstrating that charities collectively are once again firmly trusted by the public, making a visible, essential difference locally, nationally and globally. But there is no room for complacency, for charities or for us as regulator. The new findings point to the challenging financial environment charities are operating in, with a decline in the number of people giving to charity, whilst the high cost of living appears to be driving more people to access charity services.”
Holdsworth emphasised the importance of continued transparency, urging charities to clearly demonstrate how they deliver on their missions and how donations are utilised: “In these financially challenging times, charities must continue to show people how they deliver on their purpose, including how every penny makes a positive difference. Anyone can look up this information on our public Register of charities, which gives details of each charity’s purpose and spending.”
The research also sheds light on the role of the Charity Commission itself, with around half of respondents reporting that they had heard of the regulator, and 19% saying they knew it ‘well’. Awareness of the Charity Commission is positively correlated with higher trust in charities, with 63% of those familiar with the regulator reporting high trust, compared to 52% among those who were unaware.
In addition to the public trust survey, the Charity Commission has published findings from a survey exploring charity trustees’ attitudes towards their roles. The research reveals that trustees share the public’s high expectations of conduct within charities, with 61% agreeing that their charity’s standards should be higher than those of other organisations due to its registered status.
However, the survey also identifies areas where trustees feel less confident, particularly in avoiding personal bias in decision-making, handling conflicts of interest, and overseeing finances. Only 3% of trustees reported that their charity had used Artificial Intelligence, though this figure rose to 8% among larger charities with incomes exceeding £1 million.
Banking issues have also been a significant concern, with two out of five trustees reporting problems over the past year. The Commission has previously expressed its concerns about the impact of poor banking services on charities, highlighting the widespread nature of these challenges.
The full findings from the Charity Commission’s research into public trust and trustee experiences are available on the GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Contributed by: UK Government and Public Sector
Issued by: The Charity Commission