NHS charity campaigns factor behind text donations boom

Donations by text increased by 64% amid the Covid-19 health crisis, according to latest figures.

The rise comes despite the postponement of televised charity telethons during the crisis.

A key factor in the increase in donations by text was charity campaigning for the NHS during the pandemic, as well as the staging of the BBC’s Big Night In fundraiser.

The figures have been revealed in research carried out by Analysys Mason for the Phone-paid Services Authority comparing 2019/20 and 2020/21.



The rise in charity donations by text is more than three times the Authority’s estimated growth.

While it predicted an additional £7.8m would be donated by text (up 19.5%) the actual increase in spending was £25.7m.

“Some televised telethon events were indeed postponed (such as Stand Up To Cancer and Soccer Aid), but a one-off replacement telethon (the BBC’s Big Night In) and other campaigns (such as those for the NHS) attracted significant donations, which contributed to a higher amount than initially expected,” says the report.

The research is based on a survey of 5,000 users of phone-paid services.

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