Lilian and Nell

Please note: this post is 111 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

Lilian and Nell have a fair bit in common. They both live in the same neighbourhood of south London, they both love magazines, and they both love a chat. Nell started visiting Lilian each week in December as part of our Love Your Neighbour scheme to connect older and younger south Londoners who wouldn't usually have the chance to meet and share time together. We caught up with them about how it's been getting to know one another so far!

Lilian, 86

"Having someone here to speak to, it’s made it more sociable. We sit here and chat about all sorts. She’s a lovely young girl. She’s really interesting, we talk about her magazine job and she's brought her magazines in. I don't usually get magazines! I really like hearing about all the different things Nell does at work.

It’s nice to have somebody young to talk to, being young you have different perspectives. It’s nice to tell her stories about the area. I feel surrounded by youngsters in Herne Hill, there are so many new cafes and shops. I used to go down to the butchers, then the bakers and the grocers. It's so flipping different now!"

Nell, 31

"It’s lovely having someone from an older generation to speak to as my grandparents aren’t around anymore. Lilian is different to most other people I spend time with - mostly people my age. It's also really nice to speak to someone from the area. I love talking to her about what it used to be like round here. She’s lived in the area all her life - it’s her home town. It’s not my home town, that’s 200 miles up the M1!

Lilian likes having people around her, she has a lovely family who I've got to know too. She likes having a bit of different company as she tells me she can get lonely. She was really active in her community, but now she can't get out and about.

We sit and have a chat with a cup of tea and put the world to rights. It seems to make a difference. She seems happy once we’ve had a chat. A bit of company is such a simple thing."

Connections like Lilian and Nell's aim to reduce isolation and loneliness, something which can help people to stay resilient and healthy, as recently reported in the Guardian. Visits like Nell's can make someone's day, raise spirits and provide mutually enriching friendships. Stay tuned to hear more stories from our neighbours!