According to research undertaken by the Office of National Statistics, children and young people feel embarrassed to say that they sometimes feel lonely, as they see it as a possible failure. Despite this, over 10% of 10-15 year olds admit to feeling lonely, rising to 19.5% for young people living in a city; 27.5% for those in receipt of free school meals, and 28.3% for those reporting poor health. Many spoke of the practical, emotional, mental or social barriers preventing them from participating fully in activities and social life, which also contributed to loneliness.