Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 117 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
One year ago, on August 22nd 2014, South London Cares started up.
Our purpose was to bring the idea developed by North London Cares, our sister charity, south of the river to Southwark and Lambeth. We were starting a new community network connecting young professionals and older neighbours to spend time getting to know one another in this unrelenting city of ours. The hope was that locals would be inspired by the lives, stories and personalities of the people and places around them.
Southwark and Lambeth, like so many other boroughs, are exemplars of what makes London special and why people from all over the country, and the world, move here to be part of it. They’re dynamic, diverse and full of promise. But they can also be isolating, lonely and anonymous places.
That’s why we wanted to bring people together to maximise the potential for new neighbourliness and to help people stay feeling valued and visible - whether at 85 or 25.
South London Cares aims to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people and younger people alike, improve wellbeing, confidence and resilience of older people – all by bringing communities together across social and generational divides. Young people can help their older neighbours, and benefit from creating a new connection in their communities.
Over the first few months, last autumn, the network of younger and older neighbours hanging out together became real.
There have been so many memorable moments in the past year – all of them created by our amazing volunteers. From our first social club in Stockwell, film nights in Elephant and Castle, Christmas parties and a comedy night in Bermondsey.
Albert’s first foray into Skyping, Facebook and Googlemaps, thanks to Anya (both of whom feature in our new film – check it out below). A dozen volunteers helping an older neighbour at a difficult time. Creating partnerships with local businesses such as Franco Manca and the Southbank Centre.
All of these moment have friendship in common. Some of the most touching moments are the smallest things. When an older neighbour has asked after a volunteer, having met them only once. When neighbours become friends with one another. New connections which cheer up someone’s day and help to make people feel special.
Over the past year, South London Cares has:
None of that interaction, none of those relationships, would happen without the endless support, commitment, time, energy and personalities of you, our volunteers. Thank you to each and every volunteer, supporter, funder, fundraiser and friend who has helped us to get started.
We're so proud of what you're achieving together, and we get so many messages every single week from neighbours who tell us how appreciative they are of the time and support you give them.
If you are interested in volunteering with us, partnering with us or finding out more, we'd love to hear from you.