Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 87 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
We’ve made it through January, and are officially over the half-way mark of our Winter Wellbeing project! With two months still to go, we’re as busy as ever as we continue to support our older neighbours to stay warm, active, healthy and connected. What’s more, we’re reaching out and meeting new neighbours to welcome into our South London Cares family. So far we’ve spoken to over 783 people, and we’ve supported 270 with a deeper intervention. Here are just a few who we’ve connected with so far:
Agatha, 74
Whilst chatting to Agatha about keeping warm in her sheltered accommodation over the winter, she showed us a few broken bits and bobs around the house, including a cooker that is currently being held together with duct tape. We’ve put her in touch with Age UK’s Handyperson service and are making a grant application on her behalf for a brand new cooker – she hopes to soon spend weekends cooking Sunday roasts and baking with her grandkids.
Nerissa, 82
We met Nerissa on our very first day of the project, and getting back in touch with her months later, she told us that she missed how active and social she used to be. As she often stays indoors, and doesn’t get much of a chance to make new friends, we gave her a blanket to keep warm at home, and have put her in touch with GoodGym, who hope to find Nerissa a local buddy to visit her for a chat and a cup of tea each week!
Dudley
We’ve also made some great friends this winter. Like Dudley, who even braved the December cold to hand deliver us our Christmas card – fortunately he had the hat, scarf and socks we’d given him as part of Winter Wellbeing to keep him warm. After helping him out with a Dial-a-Ride application, we also put him in touch with some brilliant local services, who arranged for an energy doctor to visit and helped him receive a discount on some of his bills.
Joan, 78
As well as making new friends, we’ve been re-engaging with hundreds of neighbours who we haven’t seen in a while, such as Joan. We met Joan way back in 2015, but her arthritis now makes it hard for her to get to our social clubs. After connecting her with our Love Your Neighbour Coordinator, we’ve been able to bring some of the outside world in, by matching her up with a younger pal. They’ll enjoy a cup of tea and natter once a week, and we can’t wait to see their friendship blossom over the coming months!
Can you help us reach out to more neighbours who may need a little extra support this winter?
If you know of anyone over 65 living in Southwark or Lambeth, who may benefit from our project, then give us a call on 07710777233 or email [email protected].
We could help with:
- a fuel grant for those worried about paying those big winter bills
- a woolly hat, gloves or socks for people feeling the cold
- free social activities, including dances, technology workshop, brunch clubs, and visits to galleries and museums
- a weekly visit from a younger neighbour for friendship and company through our Love Your Neighbour programme
- connecting to other organisations who can help with finances, benefits, home repairs and energy saving
Thank you!
