Feeling Holiday Loneliness? Maambo’s Peer Mentors Are Available This Festive Season

Have you ever dreaded the upcoming holiday and Christmas season? It’s OK to admit that. Listen, many of us have been there. The holidays are supposed to bring warmth, connection, and cheer. And yet: according to a recent national survey, about 7% of adults in England say they feel a chronic sense of loneliness, while nearly half of UK adults say they feel lonely at least some of the time. That’s millions of people heading into the festive season already isolated, so when the holidays arrive, those feelings can hit even harder.

Who Gets Hit the Most with Holiday Loneliness in the UK 

When we look across the board at who is most affected by holiday loneliness in the UK, a clear pattern begins to emerge. Most people do not want to be alone on important days like Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve. However, for many, isolation is not a choice. It often comes down to limited financial resources, thin social networks, and a lack of accessible emotional support. All of which make it harder to reach out, travel home, host gatherings, or feel connected during the festive season.

As children, many of us were surrounded by built-in support systems: family traditions, school activities, community events, and the natural togetherness of the holidays. But as we move into adulthood, especially when we begin living alone, moving cities, or navigating new responsibilities, those support systems shift or disappear. This is why young adults living alone are among the groups hit the hardest by holiday loneliness, and why other demographics such as people with disabilities, low-income households, and those recently bereaved also face heightened risk.

Young Adults Living Alone

Young adults aged 18-30 are statistically one of the loneliest age groups in the UK, and the holidays can amplify this even more. This might come as a surprise to many because younger people are thought to live busy and connected lives. However, when we break down their situations, the reason why becomes clearer.  

Many younger adults are living away from family for work, university, or new life opportunities, often in cities where social circles are still forming. When everyone around them appears to be travelling home, spending time with partners, or posting festive gatherings online, young adults living alone can feel an acute sense of being “left out” or “behind”. With the cost of travel and housing rising, even visiting home isn’t always possible. Young people often feel like Christmas and the New Year are their most isolating periods of the year.

People with Disabilities or Low Income

People with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or limited financial resources face unique barriers to holiday connection. For some, mobility, fatigue, sensory needs, or health routines can make attending gatherings difficult. For others, the financial pressure of December, with all of the gifts, dinners, and travel, can make social participation feel out of reach. 

When the cultural narrative insists the holidays must be warm, busy, and full of celebration, those who cannot afford or physically manage those expectations may feel excluded from the season altogether. This can create a deep sense of not belonging at a time that is supposed to bring comfort.

Older Adults, Especially Those Recently Bereaved or Separated

For older adults, the festive season can intensify existing loneliness, particularly for those who live alone, have limited mobility, or have experienced bereavement or separation. Christmas and New Year often carry memories of past holidays spent with partners, children, or lifelong friends. When those people are no longer present, often due to loss, divorce, or distance, the contrast between then and now can feel overwhelming. 

Many older adults also find their social circles shrinking with age, leaving them without the regular contact or companionship that once made the holidays meaningful. Even those surrounded by family can feel lonely if grief or change has shifted the emotional landscape of the season.

How Peer Mentorship Can Stop Holiday Loneliness in the UK

Peer mentorship is a simple but powerful form of emotional support that Maambo champions. Instead of speaking with a clinician or entering a formal therapeutic setting, you’re connecting with someone who has lived through similar experiences and can offer grounded, human understanding.

We understand firsthand how the holidays can make emotions and loneliness even more intense and felt. There’s no shame in admitting that.

However, traditional mental health services might be too slow, heavy, or pricey during the holidays. This is why peer mentorship can become a silver lining to dark winter clouds. 

Peer mentorship is delivered entirely online through Maambo, which means you can access support from anywhere in the UK, even if travelling home isn’t an option. It’s also available at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy, making meaningful connections more accessible during a time of year that already brings financial strain for many households. You don’t need a diagnosis, a referral, or weeks of waiting. You simply need someone to talk to. Someone who gets it.

For many people, holiday loneliness doesn’t require a clinical intervention. It’s not always about deep psychological treatment. It’s about picking up your phone and device and seeing a message from someone who has been in your shoes and wants to know about your well-being.

That is where Maambo’s peer mentors make a real difference. Our mentors are based across the UK, and they come from a wide range of backgrounds, communities, and lived experiences. Many of them know exactly what it feels like to spend a Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve alone. They’ve transformed that experience into a genuine desire to reach out and support others.

Whether you need a quick check-in, a grounding conversation on a difficult evening, or just reassurance that you are not invisible during the festive season, peer mentorship offers something immediate, human, and deeply relatable. For many, that’s precisely what the holidays call for.

Find a Maambo Peer Mentor Who is Offering Holiday Support

Maambo understands loneliness doesn’t pause for the holidays. That’s why we’re offering dedicated peer-mentorship sessions throughout the entire festive period with select peer mentors. 

Whether you need someone to check in with, someone to talk through the day, or simply someone who understands what it feels like to be navigating the holidays alone, our mentors will be there. Because everything is digital, you don’t need to travel, arrange transport, or wait for office hours. You’ll be connected from wherever you are, even if you’re spending the holidays at home on your own.

However, availability is limited. As we approach late December, holiday sessions are filling up quickly. Many people are already booking ahead to ensure they have support lined up for the days that matter most. If you know the festive season might be difficult this year, we encourage you to secure a mentor now and make sure someone will be there for you.

Click here to explore available holiday mentors and stay connected this festive season.