The kind-hearted folk of Bedford are the UK’s most generous, according to JustGiving
Research released by the charitable donations website shows more than 50% of Bedford residents gave money to charity via its pages in the 12 months up to May 2014.
Those 41,631 people raised a total of £1,145,967 for charity. Cambridge was in second place, with 48,295 givers raising £1,440,634 and Reading was in third with 58,235 people donating £1,711,566.
The towns were placed in order of the proportion of givers by comparison to overall population.
Richard Fuller, the MP for Bedford & Kempston, told the BBC he was “thrilled but not surprised” by the findings.
Charlie Wells, chief marketing officer at JustGiving, said the internet had changed how people donate to charitable causes.
“Looking at this data has been a real insight into how the nation donates, with some towns and cities emerging as giving hot spots,” he said.
“Online giving is transforming the way people give, helping causes to reach more people, raise more money and inspire more giving.”
The top 10 most generous places in the UK, according to JustGiving, are as follows:
1 Bedford 41,631 givers; £1,145,967 raised; population 79,150.
2 Cambridge 48,295 givers; £1,440,634 raised; population 126,480.
3 Reading 58,235 givers; £1,711,566 raised; population 159,247.
4 Brentwood 21,672 givers; £750,509 raised, population 74,460.
5 Woking 27,646 givers; £921,165 raised; population 99,567.
6 Aberdeen 58,307 givers; £1,872,610 raised; population 220,420.
7 Cheltenham 33,381 givers; £976,995 raised; population 115,900
8 High Wycombe 31,658 givers; £1,004,113 raised; population 93,736
9 Watford 22,643 givers; £737,375 raised; population 93,736
10 Bristol 28,553 givers; £848,674 raised; population 121,723
