South London Cares is a community network of younger and older neighbours hanging out and helping one another in our rapidly changing city – reducing loneliness and bridging social and generational divides. They work across Southwark and Lambeth to bring those together who may not ordinarily have the chance to meet, and support neighbours to feel more connected to the changing people and places around them.
They do this through their four core programmes; Social Clubs, Love Your Neighbour (their one-to-one friendship matching programme), Community Fundraising and Outreach.
Hannah, South London Cares’ Outreach Officer, spreading the word in the community about the Winter Wellbeing project.
Winter Wellbeing
Now in its sixth year, South London Cares’ Winter Wellbeing outreach project runs from October 2019 to March 2020 and involves reaching out to the residents of Southwark and Lambeth who are 65 years old and above to make sure they have what they need to keep warm, active and connected during the cold, isolating winter months.
South London Cares does this through a mixture of outreach activities in the community including door-knocking, attending community events, visiting GP surgeries, pharmacies and supermarkets, and speaking with people on the street and over the phone.
Our Impact
Throughout last year’s project, they had 1,649 conversations with older neighbours and provided 549 specific interventions. They also handed out 242 warm items of clothing and provided £2,500 in small grants to those in immediate need.
South London Cares neighbours, Frances (98) and Syed (35) at last year’s Winter Party Social Club.
In November, the Winter Wellbeing team ran their second-ever Winter Warmer event at Pembroke House in Southwark. 45 neighbours met 20 partners from 13 organisations across Southwark and Lambeth and spent the afternoon sharing information and stories about the various types of help and support available in the community.
Regina. 75.
I’m so happy to be a part of South London Cares – I found out about it through my GP. The Winter Warmer event was really useful going to all the tables and talking to people and learning about the different organisations, and how to keep warm with low energy. I loved it all so please do it again!
Rosie from St Johns Ambulance
It was brilliant to meet all the other organisations, find out more about what South London Cares are up to, and especially being able to meet the neighbours and gauge their interest in the programme we’re offering.
Are you interested?
The Outreach team will be running another of these events in early 2020. If you’d like to get in touch and hear more about the Winter Wellbeing project, refer a neighbour, or get involved in any of our other programmes then please contact Matt on 0207 118 0404 or matt.scaysbrook@southlondoncares.org.uk
Volunteer with us
South London Cares are able to do this work and offer all its programmes for free due to the generous and vital support of its volunteers and community partners. If you’d like to support South London Cares and their work, there are many ways to do so from volunteering, sharing skills, contacts, spaces and resources to fundraising or donating and spreading the word. Get in touch by visiting the website: www.southlondoncares.org.uk/contact
South London Cares neighbours, David and Josie at a recent Argentine Tango Social Club
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