The UK Giving 2009 Survey, published jointly by the Charities Aid Foundation and the NCVO, has revealed that charity donations have dropped by 11% over the last 12 months, to just under £10bn.

The average donation per person per month has dropped by £1 to £10, meaning that many charities have had to face job cuts or worse – have gone to the wall. However, that statistic is balanced out by the fact that the number of people actually donating has barely dropped – indicating that very few people have stopped giving to charity – they are simply giving a little less in order to balance their own books.

We say: Remember the Gift Aid tick box – only 40% of people actually remember to tick it. If we all did, then we’d boost the amount of money going to charity. There are hundreds of thousands of charities all over Great Britain – and that’s a sign that we are a nation of charitable givers. Remember, there’s a market where there’s demand, even in the charity sector. Tick that gift box and you’ll be adding even more money to their coffers. They need it.