Payroll giving increased more than twice during the last decade, according to figures released by the Charities Aid Foundation.

CAF, which processes the majority of payroll giving in the UK, revealed that payroll giving via its services accounted for £81m worth of donations in 2009/2010 compared to £31m in 1999/2010.

John Low, chief executive of CAF, said that the recession has made people more alert to tax efficient ways of giving, but that the scheme has more room to grow.

“Only 44 per cent of UK employees on a payroll have access to a workplace giving scheme. It would be great for charities and those dependent upon them if all companies offered payroll giving and the government could boost their Big Society plans by leading this,” he said.

“A survey of business leaders found that 70 per cent would support the government introducing a universal payroll giving scheme.”