VOLUNTARY groups are feeling the full force of the credit crunch with Scots deciding that charity has to start at home.
Traditionally middle-aged Scots are the most likely to dig deep and help out with worthwhile causes.
But the numbers donating to charity in the last six months has dropped from 78 per cent to 71 per cent.
Men have been especially thrifty, with donations from their demographic down 10 per cent to just 66 per cent.
The only age group bucking the trend is the 25-34 age group who gave slightly more – up from 74 per cent to 75 per cent.
Jonathan Baker, a researcher for nfpSynergy, said: “Our new research provides tangible evidence of the impact of the economic downturn on charitable giving in Scotland. The full felt force of the recession has made people philanthropically cautious.
“Anxiety appears especially acute amongst the middle aged – doubtless over jobs, homes and pensions – so charities may need to re-engage with this age group as the economy improves.”
“Encouragingly, the dip in giving does at least seem to have flattened out over the last six months,” he added.
