...and I would think that atheists make their charitable contributions through non-religious organizations that are not necessarily atheist. They don't make their donations in the name of atheism, like a religious person would do if contributing through a church.

I would hope that most religious charities for the poor use their money to help poor people, rather than indoctrinate them. Most of the anti-poverty charities of the "mainline" churches are very good about refraining from evangelization, but I don't trust the born-again charities to do that. I cringe when family members get taken in by their compelling advertising and make a contribution to a born-again charity.

For those who want to donate without religious or political connections, I would recommend The Hunger Project in the U.S. I'm sure there must be similar non-religious charities in the UK - I suppose Oxfam would be one.

-Joe-