Higher income earners use the services of more charities than those on lower incomes, with charity shops providing the most popular interaction, according to research released today by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).

People earning over £55,000 a year are more likely to use a larger variety of charities than those with incomes of less than £14,000.

On average, higher income earners used four charities in the past year, while those on lower incomes used fewer than three.  

Almost half of respondents said that a charity was “central” to their lives, "made a difference to their lives", or that they would "struggle without them".

Deborah Fairclough, head of research at CAF, said: "Many of us don’t even realise we’re using a charity, but even a trip to a National Trust property or a visit to a museum can be thanks to the wonderful work of charities in the UK.

"This research shows how deeply charities are woven into the fabric of our lives in this country.
 
"We support them and rely on them, from buying items in charity shops to help the causes close to our hearts to seeking advice from charities on a whole range of issues."

Charity shops are the most popular way to benefit from charity, with more than six in ten of us buying something in the last 12 months, the research cites.

More than a third of people said they visited a museum, art gallery, garden or stately home run by a charity, while one in ten attended counselling sessions or support groups provided by a charity.  

Families with children over the age of 11 were most likely to have used a charity within the last 12 months with nine out of ten people having done so – and a third of lone parents said they would struggle without the charity help they receive.
 
The online poll of 2,070 British adults aged over 18 was conducted on behalf of CAF and the Institute for Public Policy Research by Populus.