One in four adults have said they are worried they will wind up spending the Christmas period alone due to lockdown restrictions, new research has found.
According to research by the charity Campaign to End Loneliness, more than half (59 per cent) of adults fear they will not be able to see family and friends during the festive season.
Additionally, 54 per cent are concerned they will not be able to see older relatives in case they put them at risk, which would result in adding to their relatives’ loneliness.
The poll of 2,071 people was conducted in the first week of October.
It also found that 80 per cent of UK adults are concerned about the loneliness of older people.
As a result of the findings, Campaign to End Loneliness is calling on the UK government to increase funding to services addressing loneliness and isolation, and bereavement support services.
Kate Shurety, executive director of the charity, said: "If the issue is not adequately addressed in every UK community, we are concerned that there could be a timebomb being set that will impact more broadly on mental and physical health services.
"We are particularly concerned about the effect Covid-19 is having on the extreme sense of isolation felt by many groups, including people in the shielding category, those feeling vulnerable, people who live alone with no social connections, care homes residents, or carers struggling due to minimal support or respite.
"We would ask governments when making any future Covid-19 restrictions to give due consideration, where possible, to allow people to form a safe extended household if they live alone or are carers, and have safe face-to-face visits within care homes."
A Government spokesperson said that they are “committed to tackling loneliness among people of all ages and backgrounds”.
“Since the start of the pandemic, over £18m of the Government's £750m charity funding package has gone specifically towards reducing loneliness and over £38m has gone to organisations supporting people with their mental health,” they added.
"We also convened the Tackling Loneliness Network - featuring high-profile charities and businesses - to explore new ways to connect groups at risk of loneliness and isolation, and relaunched our £LetsTalkLoneliness campaign to help tackle the stigma."
