The list of the richest 2000 goes online on Tuesday

EVERYBODY in Britain should give some of their time or their money to charity as a routine part of life, according to the "ambassador" appointed by Gordon Brown to promote philanthropy.

Dame Stephanie Shirley, who was given the job last week, said philanthropy should be part of everyday life, taught in schools and that people should ask one another in everyday conversations what they have done to help others.

Shirley, 75, who made a fortune in information technology, criticised those among Britain's wealthiest who refused to give anything at all to charity. "We have to take the concept of philanthropy far, far wider," said Shirley, who plans to target everyone from the super-rich to schoolchildren. "My principle is that philanthropy is pleasure and it should be part of everybody's life."

Shirley said she was already approaching financial advisers to apply pressure to those rich people who give "trivial amounts" or "a lot of high net worth people who don't give at all".

An example has already been set by Britain's 100 biggest philanthropists, who, according to research for today's Rich List, increased their donations by £216m last year compared with 2007, despite the economic downturn.

There are signs the recession is harming wider charitable giving. According to recent research for the Charities Aid Foundation, 14% of people have cut their giving in the recession, while only 9% have increased it. However, Shirley said the economic downturn would increase the pressure to give, adding that the state of the economy was no excuse to cut giving.

"The more difficult the recession is, the more the public expects the wealthy to help more with the problems of society," she said. "I was told very firmly [by the government]: 'it is not a fig leaf for terrible economics'."

Shirley plans to appoint a team of philanthropy "emissaries" who will target regions and sectors of business. This week, she will seek advice from the trustees of Prince Charles's Prince's Foundation on how to attract major donations.

Kevin Brennan, the minister responsible for charities, said: “It is important to make sure the voice of philanthropy is heard beyond its usual supporters.

“Dame Stephanie Shirley’s life and commitment are a clear indication that she is the most fervent advocate philanthropy could get.”

Shirley is the daughter of a German Jewish high court judge dismissed by the Nazis. She came to Britain from Austria in 1939 on a "kindertransport" of refugee children organised by the Quakers.

She built her fortune with a company she set up in 1962 to help women work from home. This grew into a worldwide information technology business.

"When you have survived a childhood trauma, you are left with a perverse guilt in surviving which gives you a drive to make sure each day is worth living," said Shirley. "Basically, I feel a need to justify my existence."

The spark for Shirley to begin large-scale philanthropy was the birth of her late son Giles. "My son, my only child, turned out to be profoundly autistic," said Shirley. "That gave a different slant to my life. It was no longer possible to continue as an intellectual snob for one thing."

Shirley has so far given away £55m, much of it for autism-related causes, and will give strict instructions when she dies that whatever remains of the £15m she now has left should be spent within five years.

She believes Britain has a reasonable system of tax breaks for philanthropy but that it has become far too complex for charities to claim back on small donations.

"Someone like me can get the tax breaks as I have advisers," said Shirley. "I haven't paid tax for a long time as I give so much to charity.

"But it is too complicated for charities, most do not collect tax back on donations of less than £100."

She has reservations, however, about some forms of giving. Asked if donating £5m towards the endowment of a wealthy school was a philanthropic act, Shirley replied: "Legally, yes it is, but I don't like it. Nobody really likes it, but that is what the law says and they exploit it quite rightly."