The UK's move towards a cashless society will soon be a cause of concern for charities, with many people admitting they carry less cash now in comparison to two years ago. New research from Virgin Red reveals more than half of adults say the amount they give to charity has changed in the past two years, and 18 per cent claim they donate less.
As well as a shift in attitudes towards carrying cards over coins, the pressures from the cost of living crisis have impacted the nation’s ability to donate, with the majority of people saying they are donating less owing to the increased cost of living, and they no longer have the money to spare.
And while there is a broader concern of the impact on decreased donations and the potential annual loss of millions for charities each year, more than half of Britons polled would be more willing to give to charity if they didn’t have to use money.
Richard Moore, director of partnerships at Virgin Red, said: “People now carry less cash than ever before and with the cost of living increasing, it’s making it even harder for people to find spare money to support and donate to charities. We’re extremely proud to offer Virgin Red members an easy way to support a number of local and national charities, through donating Virgin Points to good causes, to support the amazing work that they do.”
Virgin Red makes giving to charity easy, with donation options starting from as little as 1,000 Virgin Points. Over the past three months, 3.2 million Virgin Points have donated to the UN Refugee Agency by Virgin Red members, to support the charity’s work in the Ukraine crisis.
With many still wanting to donate, Virgin Red is urging customers to use spare Virgin Points, to donate to their favourite causes. As well as treating themselves with a choice of almost 200 rewards, members can also donate to 14 national and local charities through the programme.
To become a Virgin Red member or to find out how you can make points go even further, head to https://www.virgin.com/virgin-red or download the Virgin Red app on a smartphone.
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