CHARITY REVEALS ‘DEVASTATING IMPACT’ OF LONELINESS ON WELSH PARENTS AND CHILDREN

CHARITY REVEALS ‘DEVASTATING IMPACT’ OF LONELINESS ON WELSH PARENTS AND CHILDREN

•  More than half of Welsh parents have suffered from loneliness – one in six in the last week.
• Nearly two-thirds of Welsh parents feel ‘cut off’ from friends and family since having children.
• Over half of Welsh parents worry their child is lonely some or all of the time.
• Working with the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, Action for Children today launches #startswithhello campaign to encourage communities to come together to reduce isolation and make connections amongst parents and children.

More than half (58 per cent) of Welsh parents have suffered from loneliness – with one in six (17 per cent) having felt lonely in the last week, according to a new poll¹ released today (Monday 6 November) by Action for Children.

Commissioned to launch the charity’s month-long partnership with the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, the survey of more than 2,000 parents across the UK also found that more nearly two-thirds of Welsh parents (61 per cent) felt they had become ‘cut off’ from friends and family since having children, and over half (52 per cent) worry their child is lonely some or all of the time.

Brigitte Gater, national director of Action for Children in Wales, said: “From a toddler who seldom meets people because of their mother’s anxiety, to a young man in his twenties afraid to leave his room in a homeless hostel, we know from our services, across the country, the devastating impact loneliness can have on the lives of children, young people and families.

“Now is the time to raise the volume on this issue and ensure much-needed research, funding and support is put in place. And whilst part of the solution lies with funders and policy makers, there is a role for each and every one of us in addressing this epidemic in our communities.”

Co-chairs of the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, MPs Rachel Reeves and Seema Kennedy, said: “Our friend Jo Cox said: ‘Young or old, loneliness doesn’t discriminate’, and this survey highlights that fact. The worrying thing is the impact that this parental loneliness then has on families and young people in particular.

“Feeling lonely for long periods can be linked to poor mental and physical health – equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Jo recognised the need to start a national conversation about loneliness and it’s essential that charities like Action for Children continue that conversation and highlight the issues.”

To help parents, children or young people suffering from loneliness – Action for Children is launching its #startswithhello campaign, which aims to encourage others to reach out to their community and to make connections – starting with a simple ‘hello’ – to help combat the isolation affecting so many in the UK. Whether with the offer of a coffee, play date or simply sharing online details of local groups and children’s centres that people can go to we can all help.

actionforchildren.org.uk/hello