Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 130 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
Doris has lived in the pocket of Walworth between the Old Kent Road and the Walworth Road for all of her 83 years. She’s been within a few minutes of East Street all her life and has seen so much change right on her doorstep.
For the last 5 months one of our brilliant young volunteers, Bea, has gotten to know Doris through visiting her for a cuppa and a chat each week after work as part of our Love Your Neighbour scheme.
Through our Love Your Neighbour scheme we connect older south Londoners with their younger neighbours for the mutual benefits of new company, companionship and quality time. Doris and Bea have shared laughter, memories, and occasional gossip about the soaps. Doris and Bea live within 15 minutes of each other, yet they may never have met organically.
For Bea, it’s been about getting to know someone in her community who she wouldn’t have had a chance to meet. “Being able to see our relationship develop and for us to become friends, is lovely. Now it feels as though it’s not really volunteering. Doris showed me some of her favourite photos of holidays she took when she was in her 20s. I have similar photos of me and my friends, and I love that connection.”
Doris told us on the phone recently what the visits have meant to her.
“At the moment you could say I’ve known better and I spend a lot of time resting. I enjoy the company and when we talk and have a laugh it takes my mind off things. I am close with my family and friends but some of them live far away and there are not as many close by any more. I feel more in touch with the world around me.”
We wanted to share this to show how a couple of hours with a neighbour each week can make a difference. Please sign up below if you could join Bea and become part of our community network in Southwark and Lambeth.