‘12 days of Christmas: looking back at a memorable year

Please note: this post is 145 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

This week and next, we're looking back over the year and remembering the work North London Cares has done to connect people and build communities...

In March, our volunteers reached their target of knocking on 4,000 doors in Islington to help raise awareness of the different services available during the winter months. They took cold and carbon monoxide alarms to many older people. They referred neighbours who needed boiler replacements to the Shine scheme at the Council. They escorted new friends to the hospital and to get shopping, and even to a yoga class!

As Josh says in this clip, knocking on a neighbour's door to check they're OK isn't always easy. But the response our volunteers received was always positive, and rewarding:

The volunteers met some fascinating people who were doing amazing things in the community -- like Tim, who'd turned the simple concrete space outside his flat into a beautiful communal garden for his neighbours to share:

Throughout the month, bit by bit, we also started piecing together our programme for the rest of the year. Buoyed by the experience of completing our first big project, and with new understanding of what our neighbours were looking for in a community organisation like ours, we began meeting with managers of community centres across Camden and Islington to build relationships and explain our vision.

Over the coming months, that vision began to come together. Stay posted in the coming days for more on North London Cares' different projects in 2012 -- and sign up to get involved.