Back in the '30s...

Please note: this post is 130 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

When you're with friends, colleagues, family or partners, how often do you turn to them and say "do you remember when...?" If you're anything like me, it's a lot. I began thinking more about this yesterday after meeting Helen, a warm, witty and outgoing Streatham local.

Within 20 minutes of meeting Helen, I'd heard stories from her time in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force aged 20 in 1939. (That's right – she's 96.) She told me that the fun times she had in her '20s and '30s, despite the destruction of war around her, are some of her best memories: "I keep hold of them and play them back to myself - but it's not as good as talking about it with someone. It makes me feel young again - at least 10 years younger!" She loved sharing her memories and hearing my own – and I can't wait to match her up with a local volunteer through our Love Your Neighbour scheme who will visit each week for conversation over a cuppa.

Reminiscing brings people together. We bond over it, learn from it and reflect on what's still to come. Memories are permanent: good memories, bad memories and the memories yet to be made. And that's where you come in. You can be the one sharing memories with Helen, Richard, Doris and our many other older neighbours coming to social clubs and one-to-one through our Love Your Neighbour scheme.

So far, our 170 volunteers have hung out with 420 older neighbours in south London, helping to them feel as valued and appreciated as we all should feel. There's a pace to working life in London which seems to squeeze out the opportunities to enjoy these rare conversations – never mind with someone who has many more years in the bank to draw from! We'd love you to join us and spend time sharing memorable times with your older neighbours. Our social clubs are a great way to get started – a fun evening of games, a dinner party or a chilled film night.

Emma told me about what she likes about volunteering visiting Cora in East Dulwich: “I love the perspective of a different generation. When she’s talking about what it was like growing up in Jamaica and then coming to England, I could listen to her all day. It’s nice for me to have the company too.”

To join our volunteer family as we celebrate our first year this month, sign up below. See you soon!