An ongoing charity sector study has found charities are far more concentrated in affluent parts of the country than in areas of disadvantage.

The latest report from the Third Sector Trends study found that for every 1,000 residents there are 3.6 charities in the South East, compared to 2.6 in less affluent regions such as the North East.

Areas of disadvantage within more affluent regions are also missing out. In the South East for example just 6% of charities are located in its poorest areas, while more than a third are in the richest districts.

In contrast in the North East almost three in ten charities are in the most disadvantaged areas while less than one in six are situated in its most affluent. Similarly in Middlesbrough almost two in three charities are in the most deprived area.

However, in Northumberland just one in ten are in similar areas of disadvantage. Elsewhere in Darlington more than one in four charities are in its more affluent areas.

“These variations have a significant impact on how the local voluntary sector is structured, how it works and what it aims to achieve,” found the study.

It said that in “wealthier areas right across the country”, there are more charities per capita “because local people have more disposable income and productive free time; they are better connected, richer in social capital and are, consequentially, more willing and able to buy-in to a lifestyle that embraces civil society at its core”.

It added that most charities in affluent areas are “small, relying wholly or mostly upon regular volunteers to achieve their aims and most are relatively financially resilient – often relying more heavily upon their own resources than calling upon outsiders to support their work”.

Also, seven in ten charities in affluent areas have no relationship with trusts and foundations, compared to under a third in areas of disadvantage.

“That is not to say that these organisations never bid for grants, but indicates that they do so on an occasional basis rather than relying upon them heavily to keep going,” found the study.

Growing divide

The study’s latest report gives further evidence of a growing divide between charity activity in affluent and disadvantaged areas.

Last month the study revealed that funders are placing higher expectations on those in poorer areas compared to those in affluent arears.

The Third Sector Trends surveys the sector every three years and is published by Community Foundation North East.

For its latest study in 2025 more than 8,600 responses were received from across England and Wales.

Another aspect of charitable work where disadvantaged areas miss out is in volunteer recruitment, found the study’s latest report.

While all regions said they have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels of volunteering the North West “stands out as an area which is struggling particularly”.

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