Official Statistics

Community and Engagement Survey 2025/26 - volunteering and charitable giving: report

Updated 14 August 2026

Applies to England

This report summarises the key findings for the volunteering and charitable giving sector in the Community and Engagement Survey (CES) for 2025/26.^{[footnote 1]} Reports for other sections within the CES are available on the annual web page. 

The CES asked about physical engagement with volunteering, such as formal volunteering which refers to those who have given unpaid help to groups or clubs, for example, leading a group, administrative support, mutual aid groups or befriending or mentoring people. 

The CES is representative of people aged 16 and over in England. For simplicity, we will sometimes refer just to “people” in our reporting.

For information on how to use and interpret these statistics see the note available on the supplementary documents page.^{[footnote 2]}

1. Key findings

1.1 Headline

18% of people aged 16+ and over in England engaged with formal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (17%).

By local authority, there was a 23 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who engaged with formal volunteering at least once a month, from 7% in the City of London to 29% in Rushcliffe. If the City of London is excluded, there was a 19 percentage point difference, from 10% in South Tyneside to 29% in Rushcliffe.

25% of people aged 16+ engaged with informal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months, a 1 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (24%).

By local authority, there was a 26 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who engaged with informal volunteering at least once a month, from 8% in the City of London to 33% in Barking and Dagenham. If the City of London is excluded there is a 16 percentage point difference, from 18% in East Hertfordshire to 33% in Barking and Dagenham.

35% of people aged 16+ engaged in either formal or informal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point increase from 2024/25 (33%).

By local authority, there was a 33 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who participated in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, from 12% in the City of London to 45% in Rushcliffe. If the City of London is excluded, there was a 20 percentage point difference, from 24% in South Tyneside to 45% in Rushcliffe.

66% of people aged 16+ said they had given money to charitable causes in the last four weeks, no significant change from 2024/25 (67%).

By ITL2 area, there was a 13 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey, from 72% in Cumbria to 59% in Inner London - East.

2. Formal volunteering

2.1 Timeseries

As shown in Figure 1.1, both engagement with formal volunteering once a month and formal volunteering once in the last 12 months have followed a similar trend over time. This includes a decline from 2019/20 to 2020/21 for formal volunteering at least once a month (23% to 17%) and once in the last 12 months (37% to 30%) to the lowest rates in 2023/24 and 2024/25, for once a month (16% and 17% respectively) and 28% for once in the last 12 months. Engagement has risen in 2025/26 for formal volunteering at least once a month (18%) and at least once in the last 12 months (31%).

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 1.1: Percentage of people who participated in formal volunteering at least once a month, and at least once a year: England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

As shown in Figure 1.2, the most popular type of involvement in groups, clubs or organisations during the last 12 months was sport or exercise (taking part, coaching or going to watch) (32%), followed by religion (19%) and hobbies, recreation, arts or social Clubs (18%).

Figure 1.2: Types of Formal Volunteering, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.2 Demographics: Who participated in formal volunteering at least once a month

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

Age

As shown in Figure 1.3, compared with the average for people in England (18%), people aged 50 to 64 (19%), 65 to 74 (25%) and 75 and over (24%) were more likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month. People aged 25 to 34 (12%) and 35 to 49 (17%) were less likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England.

Figure 1.3: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 1.4, there were no significant differences observed between the proportion of disabled and non-disabled people and participation in formal volunteering at least once a month. 

Figure 1.4: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]}

As shown in Figure 1.5, there were no significant differences observed between the proportion of males and females (18%) in participation in formal volunteering at least once a month. 

Figure 1.5: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]}

As shown in Figure 1.6, people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (18%) were less likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month than those people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (26%).

Figure 1.6: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]}

As shown in Figure 1.7, people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (24%) and bisexual people (22%) were more likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month than gay or lesbian people (18%) and heterosexual or straight (19%) people.

Figure 1.7: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 1.8, compared with the average for people in England (18%), Jewish people (29%), people from the Any other religion classification (25%), Buddhist people (23%) and Christian people (23%) were more likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month. Muslim people (17%), people who reported having no religion (15%), and Hindu people (15%) were less likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England.

Figure 1.8: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 1.9, compared with the average for people in England (18%), people from the Black African (27%), White Irish (22%), White British^{[footnote 6]} (19%) and Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds (22%) were more likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month. People from Chinese (14%), Indian (16%), Pakistani (15%) and Any other Asian background (15%), Mixed White and Black Caribbean (13%) and Any other White background (15%) were less likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England (18%). 

Figure 1.9: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]}

As shown in Figure 1.10, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (23%) were the most likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month. This was followed by people from the intermediate occupations classification (18%), then by people from the never worked or long-term unemployed classification (14%), and finally by people from the routine and manual occupations classification (12%).

Figure 1.10: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]}

As shown in Figure 1.11, people living in the least deprived areas (10th decile, 24%) were more likely to participate in formal volunteering at least once a month than people living in the most deprived areas (1st decile, 13%).

Figure 1.11: Engagement with formal volunteering at least once a month, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

2.3 Formal volunteering at least once a month by local authority area and ITL1 area

Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 1.12, compared with the average for people living in England (18%), people living in the South West (21%), South East (20%) and East of England (19%) ITL1 areas were more likely to engage with formal volunteering at least once a month. People living in London (17%), West Midlands (17%) and the North East (14%) ITL1 areas were less likely to engage with formal volunteering at least once a month compared to people living in England (18%).

Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 23 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who engaged with formal volunteering at least once a month, from 7% in the City of London to 29% in Rushcliffe. 

If the City of London is excluded^{[footnote 11]}, there was a 19 percentage point difference, from 10% in South Tyneside to 29% in Rushcliffe.

The proportion of people who engaged with formal volunteering at least once a month was in line with the England average in 196 (66%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 58 (20%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 41 (14%) local authorities.

Figure 1.12: Engaged in formal volunteering at least once a month by ITL1 and LA area: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

3. Informal volunteering

The CES asked about physical engagement with volunteering, such as informal volunteering which refers to giving unpaid help to individuals who are not a relative. For example, babysitting or caring for children, keeping in touch with someone who has difficulty getting out and about, or helping someone with their household tasks such as cleaning, laundry or shopping. 

3.1 Timeseries 

As shown in Figure 2.1, the overall engagement with informal volunteering once a month and once in the last 12 months have shown broadly similar trends over time. This includes an increase in engagement in 2020/21 for both informal volunteering at least once a month (33%) and once in the last 12 months (54%), followed by a decline from 2021/22 for informal volunteering at least once a month (33%) and once in the last 12 months (54%), to a lowest rate in 2023/24 and 2024/25, for once a month (25%) and once in the last 12 months (45%). In 2025/26, engagement with informal volunteering once a month (25%) and once in the last 12 months (45%) has since increased.

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 2.1: Percentage of people who participated in informal volunteering at least once a month, and at least once a year: England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

3.2 Demographics: Who participated in informal volunteering at least once a month

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

Age

As shown in Figure 2.2, compared with the average for people in England (25%), people aged 16 to 24 (29%), 65 to 74 (29%) and 75 and over (30%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month, while people aged 25 to 34 (21%), 35 to 49 (22%) and 50 to 64 (24%) were less likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England (25%).

Figure 2.2: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 2.3, disabled people are more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month (29%) than non-disabled people (25%).

Figure 2.3: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]}

As shown in Figure 2.4, females (27%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month than males (23%).

Figure 2.4: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]}

As shown in Figure 2.5, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (34%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month than those whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (25%).

Figure 2.5: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]}

As shown in Figure 2.6, people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (36%) and bisexual people (30%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month than gay or lesbian people (27%) and heterosexual or straight people (25%).

Figure 2.6: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 2.7, compared with the average for people in England (25%), people from the Any other religion classification (33%), Buddhist people (31%), Jewish people (31%), Muslim people (31%) and Christian people (28%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month. Compared with the average for people in England (25%), people who reported having no religion (22%) were less likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month.

Figure 2.7: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 2.8, compared with the average for people in England (25%), people from the White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (46%), Black African (35%) Mixed White and Black African (32%),Pakistani (32%), Arab (32%), Mixed White and Black Caribbean (31%), White Irish (30%), Bangladeshi (30%), Black Caribbean (28%) and people from Any other mixed or multiple ethnic background (29%) ethnic groups were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month. People from the Any other White background (23%) and Chinese (18%) ethnic groups were less likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England (25%).

Figure 2.8: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]}

As shown in Figure 2.9, people from the never worked or long-term unemployed classification (27%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month than all other occupation classifications presented here. People from the routine and manual occupations classification (24%) were less likely to participate than all other occupation classifications presented here.

Figure 2.9: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of Multiple Deprivation^{[footnote 8]}

As shown in Figure 2.10, people in the most deprived areas (1st decile, 26%) were more likely to participate in informal volunteering at least once a month compared to people in the least deprived areas (10th decile, 26%).

Figure 2.10: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once a month, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

3.3 Informal volunteering at least once a month by Local Authority area and ITL1 area

Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 2.11, compared with the average for people in England (25%), people living in the North West ITL1 area (26%) were more likely to engage with informal volunteering at least once a month. 

Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 26 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who engaged with informal volunteering at least once a month, from 8% in the City of London to 33% in Barking and Dagenham. 

If the City of London is excluded^{[footnote 11]} there is a 16 percentage point difference, from 18% in East Hertfordshire to 33% in Barking and Dagenham.

The proportion of people who engaged with informal volunteering was in line with the England average in 273 (93%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 10 (3%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 12 (4%) local authorities.

Figure 2.11: Engagement with informal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months by ITL1 and LA area: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

4. Formal or informal volunteering

4.1 Timeseries 

As shown in Figure 3.1, rates of participation in any formal or informal volunteering once a month broadly mirror the trends seen for rates of any formal or informal volunteerings once in the last 12 months -  with a decrease in rates since 2020/21 once a month (41%) and once every 12 months (62%). In 2025/26 the rates of formal or informal volunteering once a month (35%) and at least once every 12 months (56%) have increased compared to the previous year (33% and 54% respectively).

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 3.1: Percentage of people who participated in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, and at least once a year: England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

4.2 Demographics: Who participated in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month?

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

Age

As shown in Figure 3.2, compared with the average for people in England (35%), people aged 16 to 24 (38%), 65 to 74 (42%) and 75 and over (41%) were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month. People aged 25 to 34 (28%) and 35 to 49 (32%) were less likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England (35%).

Figure 3.2: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 3.3, disabled people (38%) were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month than non-disabled people (35%).

Figure 3.3: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]}

As shown in Figure 3.4, females (37%) were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month than males (33%).

Figure 3.4: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]}

As shown in Figure 3.5, people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth (47%) were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month than those whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (35%).

Figure 3.5: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]}

As shown in Figure 3.6, people from the “Other sexual orientation” classification (44%) and bisexual people (42%) were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month than gay or lesbian people (36%) and heterosexual or straight people (35%).

Figure 3.6: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 3.7, compared with the England average (35%), Jewish people (45%), people from the Any other religion classification (45%), Buddhist people (41%), Christian people (39%) and Muslim people (38%) were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month. People who reported having no religion (31%) were less likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England (35%). 

Figure 3.7: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 3.8, compared with the average for people in England (35%), people from the White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (55%), Black African (45%), Mixed White and Black African (42%), White Irish (41%), Arab (39%), Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background (39%) and Pakistani (37%) ethnic groups were more likely to participate in any formal or informal volunteering at least once a month. People from the Any other Asian background (30%), Chinese (26%), Indian (31%) and the Any other White background (31%) ethnic groups were less likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month compared with the average for people in England (35%). 

Figure 3.8: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]}

As shown in Figure 3.9, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (38%) were more likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month than people from all other socio-economic classifications presented here. People from the routine and manual occupations classification (30%) were less likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month than any other socio-economic classifications presented here.

Figure 3.9: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]}

As shown in Figure 3.10, people living in the least deprived areas (10th decile, 38%) were more likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering than people living in the most deprived areas (1st decile, 32%).

Figure 3.10: Engagement with formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

4.3 Formal or informal volunteering  by Local Authority area and ITL1 area

Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 3.11, compared with the average for people in England (35%), people living in the South West (37%) and South East (36%) ITL1 areas were more likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month. People living in London (33%) and North East (32%) ITL1 areas were less likely to participate in formal or informal volunteering compared with the average for people in England (35%).

Local authority differences^{[footnote 10]}

By local authority, there was a 33 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who participated in formal or informal volunteering at least once a month, from 12% in the City of London to 45% in Rushcliffe.

If the City of London is excluded^{[footnote 11]}, there was a 20 percentage point difference, from 24% in South Tyneside to 45% in Rushcliffe.

The proportion of people who participated in formal or informal volunteering was in line with the England average in 246 (83%) local authorities, higher than the England average in 29 (10%) local authorities, and lower than the England average in 20 (7%) local authorities.

Figure 3.11: Engaged in any formal or informal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months by ITL1 and LA area: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

5. Motivators and barriers to formal volunteering

5.1 Motivators for taking part

As shown in Figure 4.1, people who reported participating in formal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months were asked about their reasons for doing so. They were able to select as many options as applied. 

The most common reason for formal volunteering was ‘I wanted to improve things/help people’ (51%). This was followed by ‘The cause was really important to me’ (31%) and ‘I had spare time to do it’ (30%).

Figure 4.1: Reasons for taking part in formal volunteering: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

5.2 Barriers for taking part

As shown in Figure 4.2, people who had not participated in formal volunteering at least once a month/at least once in the last 12 months were asked about their reasons for not volunteering more frequently, or at all, in the last 12 months. 

The most common barrier to participating in formal volunteering was ‘I have work commitments’ (51%), followed by ‘I do other things in my spare time’ (36%) and ‘I have to look after children’ (21%).

Figure 4.2: Reasons for not taking part in formal volunteering: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

6. Charitable giving

The Community and Engagement Survey (CES) asked people about whether they had given money to charity via a number of methods in the four weeks prior to completing the CES. This includes giving to charity via any method excluding donating goods or prizes^{[footnote 12]}.

6.1 Timeseries 

As shown in Figure 5.1, the rates of charitable giving were generally consistent (75%) between 2017/18 to 2019/20 before dropping to 63% in 2020/21. Rates from 2021/22 to 2025/26 have been stable between 66% and 67%. There has been no significant change in 2025/26 from the previous year.

Note: There are considerable changes in the confidence intervals between each year due to the sample size of the survey. Where the sample has been boosted, the confidence intervals will narrow to reflect higher confidence in the estimates.

Figure 5.1: Percentage of people who had given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey: England: 2017/18 to 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

6.2 Methods of giving to charitable causes

As shown in Figure 5.2, buying goods from a charity shop or catalogue (28%) and giving through a direct debit or standing order (24%) were the most common methods of giving money to charitable causes in 2025/26. 

Figure 5.2: Methods of giving to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

6.3 How much was being given to charity

Of people who had given to charity in the four weeks prior to completing the survey, 20% gave over £50, a significant decrease from 2024/25 (23%). 13% of people who had given to charity in the four weeks prior to completing the survey gave £5 to £9 (a 1 percentage point increase from 2024/25). 

6.4 Demographics: Who gave money to charity

Demographic questions in the survey are voluntary and self-reported by the respondent.

Age

As shown in Figure 5.3, compared with the average for people in England (66%), people aged 50 to 64 (72%), 65 to 74 (79%) and 75 and over (82%) were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey. People aged 16 to 24 (46%) and 25 to 34 (55%) were less likely to have given money to charity in the four weeks prior to completing the survey compared with the average for people in England (66%).

Figure 5.3: Engagement with charitable giving, by age, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Disability status

As shown in Figure 5.4, there were no significant differences observed between the proportion of disabled and non-disabled people and giving money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey.

Figure 5.4: Engagement with charitable giving, by disability status, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sex^{[footnote 3]}

As shown in Figure 5.5, females (71%) were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey than males (61%).

Figure 5.5: Engagement with charitable giving, by sex, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Gender identity^{[footnote 4]}

As shown in Figure 5.6, there were no significant differences observed between the proportion of  people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth and those whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth and giving money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey. 

Figure 5.6: Engagement with charitable giving, by gender identity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Sexual orientation^{[footnote 5]}

As shown in Figure 5.7, heterosexual or straight people (67%) and bisexual people (66%) were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey than gay or lesbian people (59%). 

Figure 5.7: Engagement with charitable giving, by sexual orientation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Religion

As shown in Figure 5.8, compared with the average for people in England (66%), people from the Any other religion classification (75%) and Christian people (73%) were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey. Sikh people (57%) and people who reported having no religion (59%) were less likely than the England average (66%).

Figure 5.8: Engagement with charitable giving, by religion, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Ethnicity

As shown in Figure 5.9, compared with the average for people in England (66%), people from the White Irish (78%), Pakistani (72%), Black African (69%) and White British (67%) ethnic groups were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey.  People from the Chinese (50%), Black Caribbean (55%), Mixed White and Black Caribbean (53%), Arab (56%), White Gypsy or Irish Traveller (39%) and Any other White background (60%) ethnic groups were less likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey compared with the average for people in England (66%).

Figure 5.9: Engagement with charitable giving, by ethnicity, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Socio-economic classification^{[footnote 7]}

As shown in Figure 5.10, people from the higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations classification (75%) were the most likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey. This was followed by people from the intermediate occupation classification (72%), then by people from the routine and manual occupations classification (59%) and finally by people in the never worked or long-term unemployed classification (51%). 

Figure 5.10: Engagement with charitable giving, by socio-economic classification, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

Index of multiple deprivation^{[footnote 8]}

As shown in Figure 5.11, people living in the least deprived areas (10th decile, 74%) were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey than people living in the most deprived areas (1st decile, 56%).

Figure 5.11: Engagement with charitable giving, by Index of Multiple Deprivation, England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

6.5 Charitable giving by ITL1 and ITL2 area

Regional differences^{[footnote 9]}

As shown in Figure 5.12, compared with the average for people in England (66%), people living in the South East  (68%) and South West (70%) ITL1 areas were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey. People living in London (63%) ITL1 area were less likely than the England average (66%).

ITL2 area differences

By ITL2 area, there was a 13 percentage point difference in the proportion of people who were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey, from 72% in Cumbria to 59% in Inner London - East.

The proportion of people who were more likely to have given money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey was in line with the England average in 25 ITL2 areas (69%), higher than the England average in 7 ITL2 areas (19%), and lower than the England average in 4 ITL2 areas (11%).

Figure 5.12: People who gave money to charitable causes in the four weeks prior to completing the survey by ITL1 and ITL2 area: England: 2025/26 (Base: All people aged 16 and over)

1. Questions within the Community pathway of the Community and Engagement Survey were asked to respondents from October 2025 to March 2026 only. ↩

2. The majority of estimates in this report are rounded to the nearest whole number. As data are rounded, some changes may appear bigger or smaller than they are. The unrounded numbers are available in the corresponding data tables. ↩

3. This data is based on the respondent’s sex. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question “What is your sex?”. The response options were ‘Male’, ‘Female’ and ‘Prefer not to Say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for sex, where the target concept was certificated sex meaning a person’s sex at birth or as modified by a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. This data is based on the respondent’s gender identity. The Community and Engagement Survey respondents were asked the question ‘Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?. The response options were ‘Yes’, ‘No, type in gender identity’ or ‘Prefer not to say’. This closely follows the ONS Census 2021 question for England and Wales, but has been slightly amended to include a ‘Prefer not to Say’ option as we do for all demographic questions in the Community and Engagement Survey. It should be noted that in the Census 2021 data for England and Wales, patterns were identified that suggest that some respondents may not have interpreted the question as intended, notably those with lower levels of English language proficiency. Analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022, where the gender identity question was different, has added weight to this observation. More information can be found in the ONS sexual orientation and gender identity quality information report and the additional guidance and quality information for users of gender identity estimates from Census 2021 in England and Wales. Similar respondent error may have occurred during the data collection for these statistics so comparisons between subnational and other smaller group breakdowns should be considered with caution. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. For an individual respondent, these may not be the same. For example, someone in an opposite-sex relationship may also experience same-sex attraction, and vice versa. This means the statistics should be interpreted purely as showing how people responded to the question, rather than being about whom they are attracted to or their actual relationships. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

6. The White British ethnic group includes people from an English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British ethnic group ↩

7. This is a form of socio-economic classification based on the employment status and occupation of the respondent. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

8. The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a geographical measure which classifies the relative deprivation of an area. It combines seven indices to produce one overall measure for the area (rather than the individual). It takes into account income, employment, education, skills and training, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. For this commentary, the most and least deprived deciles have been compared. There may be some other significant differences between deciles in between which have not been commented on here. The analysis of the Index of Multiple Deprivation was conducted using the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

9. This data is also available by combined authority level and ITL2 area level in the corresponding data tables. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

10. The 2025/26 Community and Engagement Survey includes over 175,000 responses, so confidence intervals are generally very narrow. Whilst this reflects a strength of the data, when highlighting differences, some local authorities may be shown to be above/below the England average, but are only a percentage point more or less than the average. There will be other local authorities who are much higher or lower than the England average, but will both be shown in the same shading within the map. ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. We have noted these where removing one single local authority makes a substantial difference to the reported range. ↩ ↩² ↩³

12. This question was not included in the paper questionnaire and was asked of respondents online, so the results are only representative of the online population. ↩