CHARITIES backed by celebrities including the Beckhams and Sir Elton John are suffering a huge slump in income, The Sun can reveal.

The recession has triggered a plunge in donations from hard-pressed Brits and those thrown out of work.

And rock-bottom interest rates have stagnated funds.

Income at Elton`s EJ Aids Foundation slumped from £15.6million in 2008 to £9million the following year. It was rising steadily until the recession bit.

The big-hearted singer was also shocked by a major dip at another of his causes, the Elton John Charitable Trust. It had an income of £276,486 in 2007 but bombed the following year to a paltry £6,000.

The Victoria and David Beckham Children`s Charity, which supports sick and disabled kiddies, had an income of £580,000 in 2007. But it crashed to just £13,000 last year.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who works with troubled teenagers, has seen the income at his Foundation fall back from £2.7million in 2006 to £880,000 in 2009.

Ex-Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton started his Foundation for ill or poor kids in 2009, when it had an income of £176,00. But last year this had slipped to £41,000.

Sir Bob Geldof has seen income at his Band Aid Foundation drop from £2.1million to just over £500,000. And Sir Paul McCartney`s favourite charity, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, lost nearly £400,000 in donations between 2008 and 2010. Other celebs whose causes have suffered include Mick Jagger, Lord Lloyd-Webber and golfer Nick Faldo.

And Prince Charles` Prince`s Trust, which helps enterprising youngsters, is down from £56million in 2006 to £36million last year.

Wealth watchdog Dr Philip Beresford, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said last night: "As we are all feeling the pinch, people are not inclined to give.

"It is particularly cruel as now is the time the money is needed most - and it is just not there."

One charity bucking the trend is the Fairtrade Foundation, which helps poor African farmers.

Its £8.7million income in 2009 was up by more than £1.5million on the previous year.
sections: Celebrities