Laughter and losing quizzes

Please note: this post is 90 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

I rush excitedly out of work and jump on the tube to Elephant & Castle. Today I’m volunteering at Quiz Club, one of around 25 social clubs hosted by South London Cares each month.

As I walk up to the door, I see my friend Anthony and his face lights up as he sees me too. We have loads to catch up on since we last saw each other, he’s been to Barcelona to see family and he’s thought of some new jokes to tell me. He’s well-travelled and always gets full marks in the geography round. Diana arrives and joins our quiz team; she has been watching the game on TV and was super sporty when she was younger. She knows all the answers in the sports round and we always rely on her to guess the logos in the quiz. 

Unfortunately, I bring no such special knowledge so we never win, but that’s not why I come to Quiz Club. I come because over the last year and a half I have built friendships with my older neighbours, I love to catch up with the people I now know well, and learn more about new neighbours I meet. They brighten my day up as much as I do theirs. We laugh, share a drink (which Anthony usually brings for our team), and chat about everything and nothing. We head back to the tube station together, already looking forward to next time.

I joined South London Cares when I went to a friend’s fundraising BBQ, I felt he was raising money for a great cause, and it was easy to sign up and get involved. I’ve always loved meeting new people and felt that my older neighbours are often overlooked in today’s society, which is governed by social media. I love listening to their funny past experiences and wartime stories. At Creative Writing Club, Peter’s stories make me laugh out loud, and I learn that Frances is a daring lady with a wicked sense of humour. At Film Club, Margarita’s laugh fills the room and dispels any grey-London-day woes. 

Social clubs give London dwellers a chance to get to know their older neighbours, who they might never meet otherwise. There’s no stereotypical bingo night, instead, you can get involved in an exciting and obscure activity you’ve never tried before, like badge making, creative writing or script reading. Everyone at South London Cares is here because they love making new friends and being part of something special and a bit different. 

The team is welcoming and friendly and the older neighbours love chatting about their day, their past and everything in between. You will meet lots of like-minded individuals who are friendly and chatty as soon as you walk through the door, so there’s no need to be nervous about joining in.

My advice? Wear your best smile. Have the courage to walk through the door, and a willingness to talk to whoever approaches you. You will leave feeling like you’ve made an impact on someone’s week, and they on yours.