Austerity has not hit giving

DESPITE the dawning of the age of austerity, Britons are more likely to donate money to charity than ever before, according to a survey of worldwide giving.

People in the UK are now the fifth most charitable in the world, and the second most likely to give regular donations to charity, according to the World Giving Index.

It found that 79 per cent of people in the UK give money to charity every month, 28 per cent of people give time as a volunteer and 63 per cent say they give to needy strangers.

The United States is the most charitable nation, followed by Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.