Donations to charity rise by a generous £400m

Donations to charity increased last year but remain well below pre-recession levels, new research has revealed.

Britons gave 10.6 billion to good causes in 2009, 400 million more than the year before, but still well down on the peak of 11.3bn, according to the Charities Aid Foundation and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

There was also a slight increase in the number of people giving regularly, with this rising by 2 per cent to 56 per cent.

John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: "Many charities are very concerned about their funding in the coming year.

"The best thing taxpayers can do to support their favourite causes at no extra cost to themselves is to tick the Gift Aid box."

Gift Aid allows charities to increase a gift's value by claiming back basic rate tax.