Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 116 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
In London it's not easy to meet your older neighbours, to hear their stories and learn about their lives. Our Love Your Neighbour scheme matches older neighbours and young professionals one-to-one to offer another connection which both young and older south Londoners can benefit from.
In August we introduced East Dulwich neighbours Kayleigh and Cait. There's a 20 minute walk and over 50 years between them. Kayleigh has lived in East Dulwich for a couple of years, and as a self employed barrister, she has a few spare hours each week. She wanted to share those hours with an older neighbour in her community. Kayleigh told us what her experience volunteering has been like so far.
“I’m the only person in my family living in London. If I lived nearer to where I grew up, I’d have my family around, so it’s nice to have a connection with someone who’s part of an older generation. You forget what it’s like to spend time with older people when you only really spend time with people your age.
Cait’s stories are fascinating. She talks me through different jobs she’s had and talks about herself when she was my age. We forget that people older than us were once our age! Her stories are an insight into how things were to grow up in a different time. I don’t know in what other context I’d get to know someone older – we go to different places and do different things.
It’s like a friendship now. Cait is a happy, bubbly person. I help her read anything she needs to read or use, but can’t because of her eyesight. Lots of it is about technology which can help her to be more independent. I enjoy popping round there and it’s nice to have a role in her life.”
Cait is 82 and has lived in East Dulwich for the past forty years, raising her family. Her deteriorating eyesight can be "a bit of a pain" but she doesn't let it stop her from getting the most out of life.
“Getting to know Kayleigh has been really great. We get into chatting a lot which I love, and it’s really helpful when she reads things for me. Essential things, like letters and information. Kayleigh’s been helping me to use an iPad. It’s good having someone new to spend some relaxed quality time with. I really enjoy her company!”
Kayleigh and Cait are two of many south Londoners who enjoy the conversation, company and companionship that they share together week in week out. If you’d like to get involved and help an older neighbour nearby, you can sign up here.