Kirsty's first week

Please note: this post is 74 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

From (clumsily!) tapping my way through a Charleston dance routine in Kilburn to sharing stories with neighbours at the confidence building workshop in Kentish Town, it’s been a wonderful whirlwind of a first week at North London Cares in my new role as a social clubs coordinator.

In the short space of five, fun-filled days, I have got to know my local community better than I had done in the nine months I had been living here prior to embarking on my new job. As a born and bred south Londoner, moving up to North London back in January felt daunting as I went from knowing the roads like the back of my hand to getting lost on the 393 bus-route. However, as I’ve travelled around Camden and Islington over the past week, it’s been more than local geography I have been taking on board. One of the biggest things that has stood out to me is the kindness of my neighbours – their generosity of spirit and the fun we can all have right on our doorstep! 

From Martin and I debriefing on the latest bake-off news over a peach cobbler at Men’s Cooking Club to me getting to hear the lovely story of Mel’s wedding in Charleston as we did the dance which owes its name to the same place, it’s been such a joy getting to know everyone. What’s brilliant is that, thanks to community networks like North London Cares, those experiences are available to all of us. 

How welcome I have felt at each of the clubs has been matched by the friendliness of the North London Cares team, and it feels a privilege to get to be surrounded by such an inspiring bunch every day. I’m excited for the coming months – all the neighbours that I’ll get to meet and chat to and the skills we’ll all learn together at the coming social clubs. I hope to see you soon at one of our clubs!