The downturn in the economy has already caused unemployment to rise by 42 per cent in the past year.

With many people uncertain about the future of their jobs, giving to charities is often seen as an expense that can be cut back on.

This seems to be the case with the Siloam Christian Mission, based in Beauchamp Avenue.

The charity is involved in more than 70 projects worldwide including an eye hospital in India and child sponsorship in Vietnam.

Volunteer fundraiser Martin MacKinsey had just launched an appeal to raise £20,000 to provide drinking water at its Lambwe school for the deaf in Kenya.

Mr MacKinsey said the charity's Christmas appeal had been successful, but donations had dropped in the past two weeks.

He added: "A lot of our supporters are elderly people and they are going to find it hard at times like this."

A spokeswoman for the Cord charity based in New Street, Leamington, Wendy Nelson said they had not yet been affected.

It has been encouraging its supporters to hold quiz nights, dinner parties and 'virtual flights' among new ways to raise money.

The Christian organisation helps refugees and victims of conflict build new lives.

Its chief executive Brian Wakley recently spoke at the Library of Congress in Washington about its work with Sudanese young people in Chad, bringing new donors in the US.

Miss Nelson added: "We are being very upbeat about what's happening and finding ways for our supporters to go out and help us.

"We can't afford to be negative - we have to keep supporting people in foreign countries who would think we are millionaires."

The effects of a recession may take longer to affect donations, according to Results UK campaigns officer David Pye.

The Clemens Street-based charity lobbies politicians to address the causes of poverty and disease and help people in the developing world set up their own businesses.

Mr Pye said there had been no drop in regular donations - but a Christmas postal appeal for new donors or bigger pledges had yielded only two replies.

Mr Pye added that donations fell the year after the last recession in the early 1990s - and that private donations were only part of the story.

The charity works to persuade governments to increase aid, and although British political parties are still committed to their pledges, the Japanese government has recently slashed its contributions.

Mr Pye added: "There is a very real concern that development aid will be something to go if governments make cutbacks.

"That could have huge repercussions in the future.

"Even when times are tough, times are a lot tougher in the developing world. Now is really not the time to cut back on pledges."