Less than 50 per cent of young people feel those over the age of 70 are important to society, a report by Jewish Care has shown.

The charity fears the results are a sign that organisations working with older people will find it increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers and funds.

An Ipsos Mori poll, commissioned by Jewish Care, found that 53 per cent of those under the age of 35 had not spent quality time with anybody over the age of 70 in the last six months or more, and that 15 per cent of 16-24-year-olds said they could only learn "a little" from older people.

The results coincide with the launch of the charity's new campaign, Pearls of Wisdom, which aims to remind the younger generation how much older people have to offer.

Stephen Zimmerman, Jewish Care's chairman, said: "Young people have become disconnected from the older generation.

"Recognising the value of older people is fundamental to all Jewish Care does. We want to celebrate the inherent value of this vital generation.

"If we don't, young people will not support us as volunteers or donors. The natural tendency of younger people is to focus on younger causes."