09 December 2024
- The number one cause for UK adults to donate to this Christmas is foodbanks (21%), closely followed by animal charities (19%)
- Only 10% of UK adults would donate to a young person’s charity and only 5% would donate to a drug and alcohol charity
- Polling is released as WithYou launches its Christmas Appeal to raise much needed funds for young people in crisis
Drug, alcohol and mental health charity WithYou reveals that this Christmas the UK is most likely to donate to foodbanks and animal charities, but only 10% of people would donate to charities supporting young people and even less (5%) would donate to a drug and alcohol charity.
This new polling launches when many young people are in crisis. NHS England data showed that in 2023, one in four young people (eight to 16-year-olds) had a probable mental disorder. In addition, the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities revealed that 79% of young people who entered drug and alcohol treatment services during 2022-23 started using substances before the age of 15.
Stephen McCulloch, Executive Director of Communications and Fundraising at WithYou says:
“Imagine being a teenager, struggling with your alcohol or drug use, or trapped in a cycle of self-harm. Instead of looking forward to the festive season, you’re just trying to get through the day, coping with a pain you don’t know how to talk about. No young person should ever feel like this, especially at Christmas.
“We applaud the UK public for giving so generously, especially when we know it can be an incredibly expensive time of year for a lot of people and living costs are continuously rising. But we are concerned that some causes, such as young people and people who have difficulties with mental health, drugs and alcohol are being overlooked. Far too many suffer in silence because they fear judgement or feel too ashamed to ask for help.
“So today, WithYou is launching its Christmas appeal to raise much needed funds for young people and we challenge the UK public to overlook that stigma and dig deep. Every pound you donate will go towards giving a young person the tools, resources and support they need to build a better tomorrow. With your generosity we can continue to offer hope to those who feel there is none.”
WithYou’s Christmas appeal will raise money to provide crucial services for young people affected by drugs, alcohol and mental health challenges. A donation of just £15 could pay for a one-to-one session with a case worker, providing guidance and support; £20 could fund a 90-minute group session in a school, creating a safe space for children to talk; and £100 could pay for five wellness kits for young people who are self harming or in crisis.
To donate to WithYou’s Christmas appeal, click here
Charities people in the UK are most likely to donate to this Christmas:
- Food banks and hunger relief charities (21%)
- Animal charities (19%)
- Mental health charities (15%)
- Health focused charities (14.5%)
- Elderly support charities (14%)
- Young people charities (10%)
- Environmental charities (10%)
- Disaster relief charities (9%)
- Human rights organisations (6%)
- Education and literacy charities (5%)
- Drugs and alcohol charities (5%)
The research was conducted by Opinion Matters among a sample of 2000 UK Respondents (Nat Rep 18+). The data was collected between 29.11.2024 - 02.12.2024. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the market research society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.