A NEW study suggests that people in Scotland are giving up more of their time than ever to help others.

Research from Volunteer Development Scotland indicates that 43-per cent of the adult population in Scotland volunteer, giving up a total of nine million hours a month.

The figure represents an increase of 37-per cent between 2002 and 2003 in the numbers of adults prepared to give up their free time.

And even without including the millions pledged by Scots in the wake of the tsunami disaster, donations are on the increase as well - 2-per cent of the average disposable income of each household in Scotland now goes to "good causes", equivalent to pounds-7.40 a week, up from 1.5-per cent five years ago.

Martin Sime, chief executive of the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, welcomed the figures.

He said: "I'm delighted that more people are doing volunteer work. I think it really says something about the stereotype of us all being stressed and busy, because the figures don't tally with the image of everyone sitting at home every night watching television."

The research, commissioned ahead of The Gathering, Scotland's largest volunteer fair which starts tomorrow, also highlights the increased funding that voluntary organisations are receiving from the Scottish Executive.

The entire income for the voluntary sector in Scotland is now pounds-2.6 billion.