A further 420,000 Britons would try to obtain compensation from a charity even if they thought the accident was their own fault.

The study found that, on average, slips and trips are already costing charities over £13,000 per claim. Claims already dealt with have included slips on wet floors and falls down flights of stairs.

People over 50 are most likely to claim for compensation, and those aged between 18 and 29 are the least likely. Londoners were more likely to seek damages than the rest of the country. Those in Scotland and the north of England were the least likely.

“The common misconception that people don’t sue charities no longer holds true,” said Gary Johnson, charity development manager at R&SA. “The survey would seem to confirm that charities are increasingly exposed to a wider range of risks that could seriously impact [on] their ability to operate and serve their beneficiaries.”