Despite claims millennials spend all their money on sandwiches and avocados, they are in fact the most generous age group when it comes to charitable giving, according to a new report

This Christmas, young people intend to make higher financial donations to charity than any other age group — with an average pledge of £31.29. 

Research from the UK’s Charity Commission also found that the 18-24s are most likely to make an informed decision about where they donate. 

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Half of the 18-24s quizzed for the online research — which surveyed 2,000 Brits in November — said they usually research a charity before donating to it. 

That’s compared to just 29% of the peopl over 75. 

What’s more, some 44% of young people defied stereotypes by saying they would give up their smartphones for the whole month of December if it meant they would raise £500 for their charity of choice. 

Only a third of the rest of the population said they would do the same. 

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“This research shows that Christmas remains a time of generous charitable giving, and that is to be celebrated,” said Helen Stephenson, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, in a statement.

“I’m particularly pleased that young people give generously, but also that they are more likely to make basic checks before giving to their chosen charity than people from their parents’ generation,” Stephenson said.  

Children, as well as health and medicine, are the most popular causes to support around Christmas time, the survey showed, and the most popular way to donate is by buying charity Christmas cards. 

Whats’s more, women are more likely to support charity than men this Christmas, and some 67% of Brits are more likely to support a charity that has affected them personally. 

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The Charity Commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales, published the research on Monday with a warning to potential givers to make sure they check out the charities they are donating to — to ensure their money will reach its intended target. 

The research “hints at a welcome shift in the public’s relationship with charities and shows why charities should be open and transparent about the way they are run and how they spend their money,” according to Stephenson. 

“Charitable giving is a unique national tradition that we should be proud of,” she continued. “This year we have seen brilliant generosity from the British public and we want this to continue over the festive period — but continue safely, with a ‘check by default’ mentality among donors.” 

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The Commission reminded the public that its online register holds a wide range of information about charities, including who sits on their trustee board, how they spend their money, and whether the charity is or has been formally investigated by the Commission.

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Millennials Are the Most Generous and Most Careful When Donating to Charity, Says Study

By Imogen Calderwood