Do we wish it could be Christmas every day?

Please note: this post is 112 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

For some, Christmas can be an incredibly isolating time. Our older neighbours tell us it’s a reminder of the lonely situation they find themselves in. No one of any age should feel like that during the season for sharing. And thanks to you – South London Cares volunteers and supporters – our neighbours felt a part of Christmas once again.

It feels somewhat odd to be speaking about Christmas in January. For many of us, the frivolity of the festive season may seem a distant memory – especially if 'new year' means ’new you’. Mulled wine has been replaced with water; mince pies with apples; and evenings out with friends swapped with nights in with Netflix.

Winter months often go hand in hand with hibernation. We batten down the hatches. We wake up in the dark, travel home in the dark. Christmas – with its active social calendar, celebrations and merriment – provides a brief pause from that.

Which is why we wanted to make the season extra special for our older neighbours.

Thanks to your time, generous donations and support, we were able to #ShareChristmas by holding 19 Social Clubs in December. That’s 57 hours of conversations and laughter. Some of the highlights included:

A group of our older neighbours visited Shakespeare’s Globe. They heard facts and stories about this historic site and Joan said ‘Shakespeare has never been so fun.’
Our first dance! Frances, Tim and Teresa boogied with their younger neighbours over in West Norwood. The room was decked with tinsel, there was a live band and mulled wine to fuel our energetic dancers.
50 neighbours attended our festive dinner in Borough. Ellie and Diona bonded over bad cracker jokes and stories about rabbit stew, and neighbours enjoyed a warming turkey pie.

You, our South London Cares family, made these moments possible. From everyone who donated to make these activities a reality, to those who shared a laugh with the likes of Frances and Tim, we want to say a heartfelt thank you.

In the spirit of the campaign, you truly shared Christmas.

But we know that companionship, conversation and time are for life, not just for Christmas. If anything, with the increasing cold snaps and further dark days, activities which bring people together are even more important. We’d like 2016 to be brimming with new experiences, interactions and opportunities for our South London Cares family. And you can make that possible.

So while #ShareChristmas may be over, the chance to help tackle loneliness in your local community goes on. Indeed, this year, the smallest donation can make the biggest difference to a neighbour’s day.

Just £4 – the price of a pint – could welcome an older neighbour like Joan to a Social Club, allowing them to have an afternoon of companionship, rather than an afternoon with the television
A gift of £10 could help give an isolated older neighbour a day out with a volunteer through our Love Your Neighbour scheme
£20 – the price of a meal out – could help fund a Social Club, such as a film club or games night, from start to finish.

And if you make any donation a regular donation, you can give the gift of friendship month in, month out.

Omi told us that South London Cares volunteers have given him “a brand new lease of life”. He said “I no longer have to console myself with books and my own head. I can now meet new people and do exciting new things almost every day of the week!"

That’s down to you. Thank you for your time, your energy and your support. If you can help us to create even more exciting activities for Omi and other neighbours, please consider donating to South London Cares. The smallest amount can make the biggest difference to your local community.

And together, we can create that Christmas day feeling, every day.