Our Love Your Neighbour programme connects younger people with their older neighbours for a 1-2-1 intergenerational friendship, providing conversation and companionship to help combat social isolation.
We'll connect you with an older person, aged 65 years or over, living in Camden or Islington, for regular calls or visits. You'll build a mutually beneficial friendship, learn from and about each other's life experiences, and become good friends along the way. The 'Love Your Neighbour' friendship programme offers flexibility, you can visit in person (either at an older neighbours' home or outside together) or you can have a phone match friendship or a mix of both.
It is a unique opportunity to connect with someone of a different generation outside of your usual social bubble. You will gain new perspectives; knowledge and will learn the value of diversifying your friendship groups and taking on a new challenge. Experiencing new company and conversation will help you feel connected to your community, broaden your horizons and gain confidence within yourself and around others.
You will learn about intergenerational friendships and your greater community.
We ask all our volunteers to attend a volunteer induction where we will tell you everything you need to know about getting involved. Our Love Your neighbour volunteers will also receive 1-2-1 training prior to being matched, and will have a DBS check completed by the North London Cares team.
We are looking for reliable, compassionate, open, friendly, and patient volunteers who are looking to help tackle loneliness through friendship, company and sharing joy.
We ask that you can commit to at least six months of calls or visits once we’ve introduced you to an older neighbour. You will be required to visit or speak to an older neighbour regularly each week. You can decide how this looks, whether it’s a regular phone call each week, or a one hour visit to their home whatever works for you and we’ll match you with someone looking for a similar thing.
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