The average Brit carries out 48 good deeds a year, it has been revealed. A study found holding the door open for a stranger, giving way to another driver and donating spare change to charity collectors were among the regular acts of kindness carried out.
Stopping the car to let people across the road, giving directions to someone who looks lost, complementing someone on how they look and even taking a spider outside instead of killing it are also common good deeds.
Encouragingly, nearly one third of us have experienced a kind act from a stranger recently.
However, the research also revealed one third of the 2,000 people surveyed haven’t done a good deed for over a month, while one in four have left it six months since their last kind gesture.
And as many as one in ten haven’t carried out a good deed in over a year.
Michelle Frost, spokeswoman for Galaxy Hot Chocolate said:
”In addition to everyday good deeds, there are thousands of warm hearted people and organisations that go out of their way to help their local community day in day out.
”This essential band of volunteers really lead the way in demonstrating the benefits of helping people out when and where ever possible.
”Often simple acts of kindness cost nothing but have a huge impact on both those giving and experiencing the kind gesture.”
Worryingly, one third of people confessed they had experienced a situation where they knew they could help someone, but chose to walk on by.
The biggest reasons for turning a blind eye were a fear of ‘seeming weird or odd’, while many simply stated it was easier to just carry on as they were and ignore.
And four in ten respondents said their tendency to keep themselves to themselves was the main reason they weren’t open to doing a bit more for other people.
The results also revealed women as undeniably the kinder sex – proving much more likely to have given up their seat for an elderly person, pay complements to others and donate change to a charity.
While 46% of women happily let someone in front of them at the supermarket if they only had a few bits to pay for, just 27% of men have done the same.
More than three quarters of women also hold open doors for others compared to just 64% of men.
However, the results showed good intentions are there, with four out of ten people saying that they want to help out more they ‘don’t know where to start’.
The study was carried out to launch the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund which will help small local community groups and charities across the UK.
TOP 20 GOOD DEEDS
1. Holding the door open for a stranger
2. Letting a car out of a junction / driveway / parking spot
3. Giving spare change to a charity collector
4. Stopping to let people cross the road
5. Giving directions to someone who looks lost
6. Complementing someone on how they look
7. Letting someone with very little shopping go ahead of you in supermarket queue
8. Saying ‘bless you’
9. Picking up something that someone’s dropped
10. Taking a spider outside instead of killing it
11. Putting money in collection tins
12. Telling someone you love them spontaneously
13. Picking up rubbish
14. Giving lifts without expecting payment
15. Giving an elderly person your seat on the train / bus
16. Helping short people reach for things high up on a shelf
17. Helping mums get pushchairs up and down stairs
18. Putting the bins out for a neighbour
19. Picking up clothes off the floor in shops
20. Saying ‘keep the change’
