A simple hug! What we missed most this year
A SIMPLE hug and a friendly chat are the things we have missed most during the pandemic, a study reveals.
More than two- thirds of people said coronavirus has made them appreciate the simple things in life more.
Hugging friends, chatting to fellow shoppers and simply being spontaneous are among the things most missed in 2020, according to research from the British Red Cross.
Nearly half of all respondents agreed that living through the pandemic will make them kinder for years to come.
Since the first lockdown in March, 41 per cent have put more effort into their friendships, with a fifth getting in contact with an old acquaintance again in 2020.
A third of the 4,000 people surveyed by the charity also said they felt more supported by their local community before the crisis.
Zoe Abrams, an executive director at the British Red Cross, said: “For 150 years, the British Red Cross has helped the nation through its toughest times and coronavirus is no exception.
“We want to say thank you to every single person who has shown kindness during this exceptionally difficult time.
“No one should struggle alone this winter. We know that the right help, at the right time, can change everything.”
The charity’s staff than and volunteers have provided more than 110,000 hours of support to the NHS and communities, from distributing Covid testing kits to providing food for hospital staff.
Tiffany Golding, 33, from Colchester, is a British Red Cross emergency response volunteer who has been on the frontline during the pandemic.
She said: “In many ways I’ve felt that there has been a stronger sense of community during the pandemic. People really have pulled together.
“Sometimes, simple stuff.” it was more