CAF Armed Forces Survey

 ComRes interviewed British adults on the effect of armed forces charities.

Date Published: 28 Jun 2013

Categories: Public and communities | Social | Third Sector | UK

Description

 Forces charities inspire Brits to back good causes

 

The success of armed forces charities is inspiring Britons to support all kinds of charities across the country according to a new survey.

 

More than four out of five (81%) people think that forces charities show how charities can change people’s lives and raise awareness of important issues, according to the poll for the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), released to coincide with this year’s Armed Forces Day.

 

More than half of people (55%) say they are more likely to support charities in general after seeing the work that forces charities do for war veterans and serving troops.

 

Overall, more than three quarters of people (77%) supported an armed forces charity in the past year, according to the survey by pollsters ComRes.

 

More than two thirds of people (68%) bought a Remembrance Day poppy, 41% gave  money to a forces charity and 19% bought a forces charity wristband or merchandise.

 

Over three quarters (76%) of Brits believe that, at a time like this, it is more important than ever that we support the work of armed forces charities. 83% think that forces charities stand up for those who do an amazing job for our country and close to three quarters (73%) of people think that the work of these charities has dramatically improved public perceptions of our serving troops.

 

Younger people - aged 18-24 - are particularly interested in supporting Forces charities, being the most likely age group to have raised money for a charity. More than three in five (62%) people aged 18 – 24 say that seeing the great work that armed forces charities do has made them more likely to support charities in general.

 

John Low, Chief Executive at CAF, which promotes charitable giving and provides financial services and social finance to not-for-profit organisations, said:

 

“Armed Forces charities do amazing work with serving troops, veterans and their families and it is great that there is such strong public support for them.

 

“It is also brilliant to see that the work these charities do is inspiring people to give to charities and get behind worthy causes at a time when many charities are facing a tough time.

 

“Britain is one of the most generous countries on earth and this survey shows how people rally round to help causes they care about when they can see what charities can achieve.”