Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 91 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
Hi! My name is Johanna, I’m delighted to be joining South London Cares as the Development Coordinator. I'll be cheering on all our wonderful runners, cake bakers, walkers, donors and supporters who make our work possible. The work that the charity does deeply resonates with me on many levels, and I’m excited to start the role.
I came across South London Cares whilst working with a choreographer called Joel O’Donoghue to produce a dance piece called Treasure & Tat. Treasure & Tat used stories shared by older people as its stimulus to explore the relationship between possessions and memory. You can see a short video on the piece here, if you fancy! South London Cares helped us on the project, letting Joel hold a dance workshop with their older neighbours.
The work that South London Cares does to connect older and younger neighbours is inspiring to me. I grew up in Devon, and first moved to south London around seven years ago to study at University. I imagined my life in London to be one full of adventure, surrounded by new friends. The reality was that in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world, I found myself feeling lonelier than I had ever before. Luckily, in my second year I moved into a house share, and formed lifelong friendships with my housemates. It was that one change – finding friendships – that made the world of difference to me. Being able to connect with people turned my experience of the capital on its head and made living in London feel manageable.
I’ve since taken advantage of all that the city has to offer me. Even in the relatively short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen south London change; local market stalls in Brixton have been replaced by upmarket bars and cafes, local pubs now another Tesco Express. Whilst I love the vibrant culture, nonstop nightlife and countless amount of food choices (!) I’ve never felt properly connected to the community around me. Instead, I’ve always felt a lingering unease with the fact that it’s young people like me moving Brixton, Bermondsey and beyond that fuel the changes happening in the neighbourhood, and yet we don’t connect with the community that has given this area its soul.
It feels exciting to now work with a charity whose core principal is to connect young professionals and older neighbours, reigniting a neighbourliness that is so important to maintain the vibrancy, diversity and vitality that makes south London great. A huge interest of mine is storytelling. Before this job, I was in the creative industries, and I love listening to people tell stories about their life, their dreams and ambitions. I can’t wait to meet the older neighbours and share stories, wisdom and laughter.
I am particularly excited to join the team as Development Coordinator - I can’t wait to meet all of South London Cares’ fantastic supporters. I’m so looking forward to being part of that journey. From the brave first step of signing up, to the hard months of training and getting donations, to the big day itself – I can’t wait to support our challenge heroes in every way I can! Not to mention our other donors, bake sale superstars and event organiser extraordinaires! I am so looking forward to getting to know the wider Cares Family, and can’t wait to meet you soon.