More than a quarter of people (26%) who give money to charity expect to reduce donations in the next year, according to a survey carried out for the Charities Aid Foundation.

However, more people plan to cut other types of discretionary spending: 37% on going for a drink, 36% on takeaways, and 32% plan on holidays, according to the December survey of 2,013 adults by polling firm ComRes.

Groceries (17%) and watching or participating in sport (24%) were the only two types of spending that fewer respondents thought they would cut than giving.

Paul Rees, director of communications at the Charities Aid Foundation, said: "Even in tough times, people are extremely reluctant to cut the generous support they give to for the causes we all care about.

But only 12% of charity donors said that they are likely to increase their charity donations in the next year.

Rees added: "Britain is one of the most generous nations on earth, but it’s still very worrying that so many people expect to reduce their donations in the next 12 months. If that happens, charities and the causes they support will suffer."

Professor Cathy Pharoah, co-director of Cass Business School’s Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, said that the results were not surprising: long-term research over the past 30 years shows that giving is more resilient than other types of spending.

She said: “What people give is often a very small percentage of their spending. For most who are looking to reduce their spending it won’t be the first area to cut because they can’t save enough.”

A potential triple dip recession and protracted economic difficulties for donors are likely to present new and bigger challenges for charitable giving.