Please note: this post is 23 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
As summer draws to a close, we’re reflecting back on what a jam-packed summer it’s been for our Outreach programme. This 'Hot Outreach Summer' has seen highs of 40 degrees which has made for some beautiful, albeit sweaty, Outreach events!
We have loved getting out and about to meet older and younger neighbours across Lambeth and Southwark at different community events this summer, including Lambeth Country Show and Kennington Park Fair, and to build new community partnerships, such as atthe Community Southwark's social prescribing networking event.
We also partnered with the Resident Involvement team in Southwark, speaking at their healthy eating and smoothie workshops about our programmes and meeting neighbours who may be looking for more connection in their local areas.
In the last three months, we’ve been kindly hosted by Peckham Levels and Friendship Adventure Brewery to hold six inductions to welcome the 85 younger neighbours who signed up to get involved!
We also wanted to find ways to say thank you to our younger neighbours already involved in our programmes. In June, we hosted our All Together Week during Loneliness Awareness Week, including a social for younger neighbours with our friends at Friendship Adventure Brewery and training by the British Red Cross on how to spot and support those experiencing loneliness.
We've also explored an exciting collaboration with F.A.T. Studio, who run regular arts clubs for teenagers and adults in the Old Kent Road area. First of all, we worked with a group of young people to create a new design for some tote bags we could use at Outreach events, using our mission and quotes from neighbours for inspiration. Check out their amazing final design, and pop along to on of our events if you want to a pick up a bag for yourself!
We also jointly facilitated an intergenerational art exchange, where one older neighbour and one younger neighbour hosted an art workshop. Check out the masks and hats we made here!
A big part of our work is helping our neighbours find the support they need beyond our programmes, so that they can overcome barriers to joining our community. We really appreciate the support provided by some of our community partners, including Ability Net, GoodGym, Link Age Southwark. And on the flipside, we are grateful to our community partners who refer both older and younger neighbours into our programmes, such as the British Red Cross, Guy's Hospital, Age UK Lambeth, Independent Age and Blind Aid, as well GP surgeries and social prescribers across south London. It’s these open relationships that mean we can all help each other and our neighbours easily.
Finally, moving into the new academic year, we're excited to be meeting more younger people and university students through partners such as King's College London and Goldsmiths. If you work at any colleges or universities and would like your students to find connection through South London Cares, please get in touch!
If you would like to get involved in our programmes, or know someone you would like to refer, please complete this online form.
If you'd like to partner with us, or have any general enquiries about our Outreach work, feel free to get in touch using this form.