Generosity and Geography: What CAF’s Latest Report Tells Us About Local Giving

Earlier this year, the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) published its latest UK Local Giving Report, revealing that generosity doesn't always follow wealth. While the UK public gave £15.4 billion to charity in 2024, some of the country’s wealthiest areas donated the smallest share of their income, with Kensington and Bayswater giving just 0.5%. In contrast, communities like Sheffield Hallam donated nearly double the national average.

What does this mean for Kent?

Kent is a county of contrasts, from prosperous commuter towns to rural and coastal communities that face deep-rooted challenges. The CAF data suggests that areas like Chatham and Aylesford, Sittingbourne and Sheppey, and Thanet record lower-than-average donation levels, despite high levels of local need and social deprivation.

This underlines the importance of place-based giving, something Kent Community Foundation has long championed. We see every day how locally rooted philanthropy can make a real difference to people and places that are often overlooked by national funding models.

As the report recommends, empowering local areas to attract more philanthropic investment is essential. That’s why Kent Community Foundation continues to partner with donors to support small charities and community groups doing brilliant work on the ground from Medway to Thanet, and everywhere in between.

Read the full CAF Local Giving Report.

Find out how you can support your local community. Email development@kentcf.org.uk