The disillusionment of UKIP supporters could damage the charity sector

Study shows that UKIP supporters are as disillusioned with charities as they are with MPS.

Study shows that UKIP supporters are as disillusioned with charities as they are with MPS

New polling by Ipsos Mori for NPC warns that the mistrust many UKIP supporters feel for ‘the establishment’ is now extending to the charity sector.

Over half of UKIP supporters said that they had no trust in UK charities, adding them to the list of institutions in which they have lower than average trust – MPs, the BBC and the police.

The new data, which is the first of its kind ever published, finds that 53 per cent of UKIP supporters declare low trust in charities, compared with 33 per cent of Conservative voters, 28 per cent of Labour supporters and 24 per cent of Lib Dems.

This compares with 35 per cent of the public as a whole who say they have low trust in charities.

The study also shows that people are much less likely to trust charities if they feel they are political. 40 per cent of people said they would prefer to donate to local charities, but only 15 per cent mostly view charities as ‘local’. 70 per cent of people would prefer to donate to service delivery charities rather than awareness raising ones.

The poll finds that international charities have ‘virtually no support’ from UKIP voters; 1 in 5 of the general public support international charities.

The NPC worry that the findings may have serious implications for the charity sector as it struggles to find support amid increasing scepticism. The government, NPC argues, will have to find new ways of making civil society work in the age of austerity.

NPC’s chief executive Dan Corry said:

“We know that many UKIP supporters are disillusioned with the Westminster establishment and with many public institutions. Our new research suggests that charities are in danger of being lumped in with them, as UKIP supporters are far less trusting in charities compared to supporters of the three established parties.

‘UKIP supporters seem to represent an increasing strand of public opinion, and one that the charity sector cannot ignore. Like it or not, they may have a bigger voice—or even hold the balance of power—after the general election.”

33 Responses to “The disillusionment of UKIP supporters could damage the charity sector”

  1. JoeDM

    Many, if not most, of the large mega-charities are run like large multinational corporations with six figure salaries and banker style bonuses for the seniror management, big lavish offices in the centre of London and glossy TV advertising campaigns.

    We see where our money is going and we make an appropriate decision.

    I only now give to small local charities that are focused on real issues and not involved in politics.

  2. Guest

    Keep hating on people being paid decent salaries. It’s not your cash, you don’t give, stop whining.

    And yes, I’m sure you give to your pub fund.

  3. Seymour

    Charities that are into politics, supporting their favourite party, aren’t charities in my book.

    Charities that receive most of their funding via government largesse, anti-smoking lobby for one, aren’t really charities.

    For charities to start regaining trust they need to refuse funding from governments, national and local, not be so obviously biased in favour of political parties and not be total hypocrites and liars (greenpeace and peta for two that are).

    Also, paying your managers hundreds of thousands of dollars/euros/pounds a year implies (well I infer) that their leadership is not focused on the charities aims.

  4. swat

    We need to give the money to the Voluntary Sector and Charities so that the Big Society can finally take off.

  5. madasafish

    +1

    A well put summary of my own views.

    When charities are so large, the reason for their funding is to continue their own existence.
    When charities pay megabucks, their managers are not motivated by the cause.
    When charities receive more than 25% (or roughly) of their income from the state, they do the state’s bidding…

    When more than 25% of income goes on administration costs, they are not a charity.

    First job is to do a clean sweep of the Charity Commission Management: they are largely complicit in this debasing of charities…

    ANY hint of political work or support for a political party at home or abroad and charitable status should be withheld – permanently.

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