Introducing Rosa – SLC’s Outreach and Volunteer Officer

Please note: this post is 118 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

In her first blog, SLC's newest member of staff writes about the unusual place she heard about us, and why her first week of work made her even more excited to be involved.

Last year I worked on English National Opera’s Other Voices project. The idea was to bring together 270 performers who wouldn’t normally mix to perform in Brixton’s Windrush Square: pensioners and primary school children, young professionals and homeless people. I remember on performance day chatting to the most stylish lady I’ve ever come across – never mind that she was in her eighties – dressed in purple from head to (no doubt exquisitely manicured) toe. She didn’t bat an eyelid at my scruffy trainers and threadbare beanie. Instead we cackled and conferred over rice and peas. It was the unlikeliest of scenarios, and yet we got on so well.

I had the realisation that in the couple of years I’d spent in London, I’d been consistently hanging out with people who were just like me. I’d make the effort to travel an hour across London to see other twentysomethings, but I’d excused myself as too busy to get to know the community that I lived in. I was missing out! But then I moved flats twice in six months, and excused myself once again as too busy and my living situation as too unsteady to do anything about it.

Then at the Top of the Rock in New York, I heard about South London Cares. While everyone else I was with was checking out the New York skyline (ie taking selfies) I was shamefully scrolling through Facebook. Someone I hadn’t seen in a good five years had posted about SLC. I took a look around the website, thought the organisation looked amazing, and the rest is history!

Three social clubs in, and I’ve already discovered where to find the best Chinese restaurant in London (Hong Kong City, cheers for the tip Dona) as well as the beautiful Carnegie Library in Herne Hill, where I discussed the new Barbara Hepworth exhibition with Cathy. I’ve also tried my hand at sketching flowers with Richard and Sylvia in Stockwell, and giggled over Ryan Gosling’s abs with the friendliest group of ladies you’ll ever meet in East Dulwich.

In my last role I managed a freelance community of writers, editors, translators, video producers and graphic designers for a lovely digital startup in central London. In a different way, it was its own diverse community: members spoke 24 languages, lived across six continents and had different types of expertise. I’m excited to draw on this experience to make South London Cares even more welcoming, fun and effective for every single older neighbour and young professional involved. And of course, to ensure that SLC is as far-reaching as possible. The way South London Cares brings people together is incredible – everyone should know about it.