New independent research conducted by ICM and commissioned by the CSV Make a Difference Day campaign reveals the extent to which riots and recession are taking their toll on the nation’s anxiety about the future. Nearly a third of young people are more anxious about their future since the onset of recession, while 1 in 10 of the population report anxiety following the summer riots.

The independent research published on the two month anniversary of the start of the English riots (6th August) and the third year since the start of the recession was officially confirmed, shows the extent to which British people are lonely, isolated and anxious about the future.

The research, which probes the perceptions of 2030 people across Britain, asks if the nation feels more or less isolated from their community since the English riots, as well as asking if the riots and the onset of the recession triggered feelings of anxiety or loneliness. The key results of CSV Make a Difference Day’s Riots, Recession and Loneliness Survey reveal:

•    More than 1 in 10 people (13%) are more anxious about their future as a result of the English riots, rising to over a third (35%) since the onset of recession.

•    Younger people aged 18 – 24 are particularly badly affected. More than a fifth (22%) reported feelings of anxiety about their future since the English riots, rising to a third since the recession started three years ago (29%).

•    Additionally, 1 in 10 young people (18 – 24 years old) feel more isolated from their community since the riots. When asked about wider feelings of loneliness over a 10 year period they report that they feel twice as lonely (36%) than people aged over 65 (14%).

•    Across the socio-economic classes, the poorest and most disadvantaged members of society are more than twice as likely to feel lonely since the onset of recession, compared to other social classes (Category: DE 12% (1 in 10) versus AB 5% (1 in 20).

•    People who live in riot-hit cities are amongst those most likely to feel more anxious about their future: Manchester and London both stand at 16% though peaks were recorded in other cities with more minor disruption such as Oxford (21%) and Southampton (17%).

•    Looking at key parts of Britain, more people living in the capital are likely to express feelings of isolation as a result of the riots than anywhere else (1 in 10 – 11%) compared to 9% in both the North West and North East and just 1% for Wales and Scotland

The research comes in the build-up to CSV Make a Difference Day, which is the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering on Saturday 29 October 2011. This year the focus is isolation and loneliness. The campaign is looking to demonstrate how giving time through volunteering with friends, family and neighbours and being an active member of the community can make people feel less lonely, anxious and isolated whether it’s clearing graffiti and reporting faulty street lamps or visiting isolated people.

Psychologist and Life Coach, Honey Langcaster-James, is supporting the campaign and gives her own analysis as to why people may feel lonely or anxious since the English riots. She also explains why giving time for free to benefit communities is an effective way to meet new people to combat loneliness and isolation: “People like to feel that they belong in their community and volunteering to benefit someone else that may be less fortunate is one way to validate ourselves as individuals. Modern day issues like unemployment and depression can make you feel worthless but volunteering and spending time with others can remind ourselves that we all have qualities and talents to offer.

“The English riots were shocking to many, and younger people especially are likely to have been affected emotionally by them. They may feel a combination of guilt, that other young people like them were partly responsible, and isolation because perhaps they as individuals would not act in such ways, so they may feel ‘different’ from their peers as they see them.

“People from cities that were not involved in the riots may have felt even more anxious because often the anticipation of a problem is worse than the problem itself. Furthermore, people in London and affected areas also experienced the camaraderie and the pulling-together of communities in clean-up operations around the city. This will have given them a sense of survival, that they suffered yes, but also that as a community they could cope with it and overcome the trouble. Cities that were not hit may fear that if they had been they might not have coped so well.”

Long-standing CSV Ambassador from the music industry, Pete Waterman, who has given his time for free for many years says: “Many might be surprised to learn that levels of loneliness and anxiety peak amongst the young. High youth unemployment, the rise of tuition fees and little hope of buying a home are all factors that might contribute to feelings of anxiety and loneliness. CSV Make a Difference Day is a simple way of demonstrating how people of all ages can get to know their neighbours to combat isolation and loneliness to create a happier, safer and stronger communities. Many ways of tackling loneliness are reliant on volunteers giving their time and care. Volunteering in your local area is empowering and enjoyable as well as increasing confidence, self esteem and improved health. We shouldn’t also forget that it’s also tons of fun!”

The recent riots compelled local people to come together to clean up riot-hit streets and show solidarity for the community they live in. Dan Thompson, who runs the Empty Shops Network, initiated and founded #riotcleanup on Twitter to urge volunteers to clean up their communities and claim back their local area from rioters and looters. Dan says: “#riotcleanup saw thousands of people across the country come together, volunteering because they wanted to make a difference. Armed with just brooms, cups of tea and a can-do attitude, volunteers changed the mood of big cities and had a huge impact on local communities, who are now carrying on the work post-#riotcleanup.”

Last year 70,000 volunteers took part on a huge range of causes for Make a Difference Day: creating homes for snakes, bees and newts; protecting ancient burial mounds; knitting hats and gloves for premature babies and even walking on hot coals to benefit children. Any activity can be incorporated to spend time with others to feel less isolated and lonely in the community.

For the 16th CSV Make a Difference Day, the campaign is encouraging the nation to combat community isolation to end loneliness for people of all ages. CSV is giving away free How-to guides that offer volunteering ideas, hints and tips; the nation can write or draw pictures for seriously ill children in hospitals, knit blankets for homeless animals in shelters, teach a neighbour how to use the internet, make a delicious chocolate fridge cake for a lonely neighbour, homeless shelter or nursing homes. The guides also offer a variety of simple ideas to get started to end loneliness and to make communities feel stronger and safer.

This latest research builds on earlier research commissioned by Make a Difference Day about the positive impact of volunteering:

•    More than half the population (55%) feel happier when they help a neighbour or friend with a problem, rising to 67% for the over 65s
•    A third (31%) of 11-17 year olds would like to spend more time with their family.  This rises to 38% amongst older teenagers (15-17 year olds)
•    41% of adults surveyed do not feel they spend enough time with their family peaking at 48% for adults aged 25-34 years
•    Nearly half of all volunteers (47%) say volunteering improves their physical fitness
•    Half of people (48%) who have volunteered for more than two years say volunteering makes them less depressed.
•    Up to 63% of people say volunteering helps them feel less stressed.

CSV Make a Difference Day is on Saturday 29 October 2011, with activities taking place a week either side. To find out more visit www.csv.org.uk/difference  or call FREEPHONE 0800 284 533 or email difference@csv.org.uk

For further press information or to receive a full regional break down of results: Francesca Toma on 020 7812 0037/ 07966 168686 or Jason Tanner on 020 7812 0038 / 07941 433598

Notes for editors

CSV Make a Difference Day’s Riots, Recession and Loneliness Survey was commissioned by CSV Make a Difference Day and conducted by ICM. ICM interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2030 adults aged 18+ in GB via online between 9th and 11th September 2011. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.  Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk

The Family Time Survey was commissioned by CSV Make a Difference Day and conducted by ICM. ICM interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2000 adults aged 18+ in GB via online between 9th and 14th July 2010. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.  100 children aged 11-17 were polled randomly across GB, fifty aged 11-14 and fifty aged 15-17. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.  Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk

CSV Make a Difference Day takes place on Saturday 29 October 2011 and activities take part a week either side. Over three quarters of a million people have taken part since the launch of CSV Make a Difference Day in 1996, and thousands more are expected to give time rather than money to improve their local community this year. The campaign is organised by CSV (Community Service Volunteers)

CSV creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action.