The week, which will see new research and a national and regional media drive, aims to focus the public’s attention on the work of charities and the benefits of planned giving schemes.

In advance of the week, CAF has released research which it says shows that 40% of the public could afford to double the amount they give to charity. The research showed that the public ranked charitable donations last on a list of priorities on non-essential spending. On average, households spent three times as much on tobacco and three and a half as much on alcohol as charitable giving. Only 7% said they could cut down on alcohol to give more to charity, but 41% thought other people could.

Commenting on the findings, CAF director of research Cathy Pharoah said: “For many of us giving is simply not a priority and it’s up to charities to find even more powerful ways of persuading people of the value of their work.”

The research also showed the average proportion of income that people gave in different areas of the UK. Top of the list was Northern Ireland at 1.5%, followed by Scotland and the South West at 1%. Donors in London and the North East came in last, giving just 0.6%.