The social media campaign urging people to donate their first new £5 note to charity has raised up to £12.5m, according to a Charities Aid Foundation poll.
Shortly after the £5 note was released John Thompson, fundraising consultant at Changing Business, started a campaign on Twitter encouraging people to give their first plastic £5 note to a charity of their choice.
Supporters used the hashtags #firstfiver or #fivergiver to share the campaign with followers. The movement was backed by the Institute of Fundraising and NCVO and received coverage in a number of national newspapers.
Now polling, commissioned by CAF and carried by YouGov, indicates that two and a half million adults donated, or plan to donate their first £5 note to charity.
Just over 1,000 people questioned by YouGov found that 5 per cent of people would donate, or have donated, their first new £5.
Women were more likely to donate than men, with 7 per cent saying that had or would. Some 16 per cent of respondents had heard of the campaign. Awareness was higher for younger people with 25 per cent those aged 25 to 34 aware of it.
Hannah Terrey, head of policy and campaigns at CAF, said: “It is fantastic that people been inspired to do something good with their new £5 notes. With this year’s #givingtuesday fast approaching, this is a great example of a simple and easy act of kindness which can really make a difference.
“Social media campaigns can be a really effective way to get people– particularly younger adults – inspired to support charities.”
CAF released the research ahead of the #givingtuesday which will take place on the 29 November and encourage as many people as possible to “do good stuff” in the lead-up to Christmas.
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