One in eight UK adults have been supported by charities since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, research has revealed.

Of those who have received support, nearly four million said they never expected to need help and three quarters of those helped have been dependent on regular support since the health crisis began in March 2020.

The findings have emerged in research commissioned by the insurance and savings industry’s Covid-19 Support Fund.

As many as two in five (39%) of people believe they expect to need charity support for at least another six months.

Young adults and those in London are among the most likely to use charity services. In London almost all (95%) those in receipt of charity support say they are dependent on the help they receive.

The largest areas of support are mental health, food and employment. Two in five 35-54-year-olds have needed mental health support from a charity.

“This research paints a worrying picture of how dependent people across the UK have been on charity support since the beginning of this crisis,” said
Yvonne Braun, executive lead at the Association of British Insurers for the Covid-19 Support Fund.

“The support people have needed hasn’t been a one-off, instead many have required regular help from these organisations. And many people would have suffered more without the help that many charities have provided them with this year. It is also clear that without charities, the emotional impact of not having any support could have worsened this crisis even more.”

Earlier this month the Covid-19 Support fund announced £7.8m in funding for Action for Children and Carers Trust to boost support for young carers.

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