Love your neighbour

The charity’s project, Love Your Neighbour, is a friendship-matching scheme that pairs young professionals (20-30 years old) with their older neighbours (65+ years).

The aim is for each volunteer to spend time with their older neighbour once a week, either for a cup of tea and a chat – or to occasionally offer help with small practical tasks, such as changing a light bulb.

Following the success of a sister scheme North London Cares, South London Cares was launched in 2014 in Southwark and Lambeth. The number of volunteers grew quickly with the introduction of social clubs such as latin, ballroom dancing, quizzes and script reading. By the end of 2016, the Cares network had more than 4,000 volunteers helping others in the community.

Volunteers must live or work in Southwark or Lambeth to ensure visits are easy to make and sustainable. There is also a six-month minimum commitment to the scheme to ensure continuity for all involved.

The network is always growing and through Love Your Neighbour, it is hoped the charity can connect even more younger and older people to form meaningful friendships.

If you’d like to volunteer, contact Oliver , the Love Your Neighbour programme coordinator, for Southwark, on oliver.wareham@southlondoncares.org.uk