Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 134 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
As well as our regular social clubs that brought young people and older people together over shared interests such as music, food or film, our volunteers pop in to see their older neighbours who are lonely and isolated to provide a bit of support and companionship. As winter nears, we want to make sure our older neighbours aren't alone.
Our social events and activities provide a great opportunity for our young volunteers to really get to know the older people who live near them and to gain a real insight into their London - now and then. It's always fascinating to hear Harry's stories of the film industry in Islington in the 1930s or to hear Inez recall her mother and aunts crocheting lace on their steps in Clerkenwell as they had done back home in Italy. As well as being fun for everyone who attends, these groups can provide a vital lifeline for the older people who come along who may otherwise find themselves alone at home, as Lil explained in her recent ITV news appearance:
There are some people who, unlike Lil, find themselves no longer able to get out of the house due to reduced mobility or illness. This can be more acute during the colder winter months that are on their way, as older people can be afraid to leave the house when the nights are cold and they are at increased risk of falling on icy pavements.
That is why our Love Your Neighbour programme is so important to us as this is how we try to reach the most isolated and vulnerable older people in our community. There are some older people who can go days or even weeks without seeing or speaking to another person. This simply isn't right. But our wonderful volunteers popping over for a cup of tea and a chat have really changed the lives of some of the older people we work with.
And as Mike's blogs on his experience with Mitzi show, our volunteers can get just as much out of it as the older people they visit (here, here, here, here and here)
Visiting an isolated older person often isn't easy, but can prove to be an extremely rewarding experience and as Mike's blogs show, it can throw up some surprises too. There are lots of people who would like an opportunity to share their experiences and interests with someone, and we are always looking for more volunteers to make this possible. We always attend the first few visits with volunteers and make sure everyone is happy and comfortable before visits become a regular meeting between an older person and a volunteer.
If you would like to pay a regular visit to an older person near to you, please email [email protected] for further information.