Donations to the UK's charities that support the armed forces surged by more than 25 per cent between 2008 and 2010, while donations to other charities dropped by 4.3 per cent, according to research by the Charities Aid Foundation.

CAF analysed the financial returns of 32 charities supporting servicemen and women and compared the value of all donations, including gift aid and legacies, to those of all other large charities (with an income of over £500,000).

It found that giving to armed forces charities was up by 26.2 per cent in real terms during the three-year period, while donations to all other large charities dropped by an aggregate of 4.3 per cent.

Richard Harrison, director of research at the Charities Aid Foundation, said: "Armed forces charities do amazing work for serving soldiers and veterans, and for their families. People across the country have been moved by the work of the armed forces, and by the harrowing stories of military personnel who do a very difficult job, in incredibly difficult circumstances.

"The surge in donations to armed forces charities shows that - even in these tough economic times - people will rally round to support a cause they really care about."

Help for Heroes, which launched in 2007, saw a remarkable spike, increasing donations by 181 per cent. And ABF, the Soldiers Charity saw its donations increase by 58 per cent from 2008 to 2010. 

Bryn Parry, CEO & co-founder of Help for Heroes, welcomed the report but warned against getting complacent about giving: “The British people have given so generously to our wounded heroes and we are grateful for every penny.  But please keep on giving, we are spending every pound that comes in and need so much more to keep on supporting ‘our blokes’ – the men and women of the armed forces, for life.”

CAF's report follows the publication of the UK Giving Report in January, a joint venture between CAF and the National Council of Voluntary Organsations, which showed that while there were one million more people giving in the last financial year, the value of donations remained flat at £11bn.