Donors to charities are not optimistic about the future of Britain’s 'giving' economy, new research by Santander has found.

The survey of more than 2,266 adults was undertaken in association with YouGov to reveal that if the economy was to recover in the next six months, over two-thirds of people would give the same amount to charities.

“Our results show that people are not yet ready to increase the amount they are donating to local charities,” said Christianne Carrick, community relations manager at Santander.

Despite such pessimism, the economic downturn has not deterred donors giving less to civil society organisations, with over two-thirds claiming that it has not had an effect on the amount given since September 2008.
 
Yet donations to the arts, education and human rights appear to be at all-time low, with only 1 per cent of those surveyed stating that they would give to such causes if they had £250 spare.

Hospices, health and animal charities seem to come out on top, however, with over 400 respondents claiming that such causes would be the preferential ones to give the £250 lump-sum.

The research has come as Santander ends its Community Chest programme, which saw £250,000 donated to charities across the United Kingdom, with approximately £57, 000 donated to 142 hospices across the country.