Love Your Neighbour - Intergenerational 1-2-1 Friendship Matching

Love Your Neighbour is our intergenerational one-to-one friendship programme. We introduce younger and older neighbours in Southwark and Lambeth, to share time, laughter, and joy together through regular meet-ups or phone calls, or a mix of both.

What You'll Do: 

We'll connect you with an older person, aged 65 years or over, living in Southwark and Lambeth, for regular calls or visits. You'll build a mutually beneficial friendship with an older person in your local community, learn from and about each other's life experiences, and hopefully 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.

Why You'll Love It: 

It is a unique opportunity to connect with someone of a different generation outside of your usual social bubble. The 'Love Your Neighbour' programme provides company, conversation and companionship to help combat social isolation and loneliness. It is a wonderful opportunity to share skills and interests but also acquire new ones too.

What You'll Learn: 

You will learn about intergenerational friendships and your greater community .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.

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 South London Cares team. 

What We're Looking For: 

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 3-4 20 minute phone calls each week, or a one hour visit to sit at home with them, whatever works for you and we’ll match you with someone looking for a similar thing. 

Summary
Volunteering
Befriender
Mental Health
Older People
Social Care
Widening participation
Location of opportunity: 
Across South London
24 Weeks Minimum
1 Hours / Week
Skills you will develop: 
Active listening
Empathy
Interpersonal / Confidence
Relevant interests: 
Charity / Nonprofit
Health, Wellness and Fitness
Requirements: 
DBS check
Over 18 years old
Phone Interview

Similar Opportunities

 
Children's Residential Project Group Leader
Free to Be Kids
Min. 1 Weeks Minimum weeks
Children's Residential Project Group Leader
Volunteering
Volunteer
Mental Health, Social Care, Widening participation, Young People

Free To Be supports particularly vulnerable children to begin to change their stories about who they are, and who they can be. We help children who have often grown up with significant adversity or hardship to more often feel proud of themselves.

 
Welcome Area Volunteer
Providence Row
Min. 4 Weeks Minimum weeks
Welcome Area Volunteer
Volunteering
Volunteer
Addiction, Crisis Support, Homelessness, Mental Health

• Supporting our reception team to create a warm and welcoming environment for our clients & assist in the smooth running of this area • Align with our values of compassion, respect, inclusivity, empowerment & justice

 
Kitchen Assistant
Providence Row
Min. 4 Weeks Minimum weeks
Kitchen Assistant
Volunteering
Volunteer
Addiction, Crisis Support, Homelessness

We are looking for Catering Volunteers who will be assisting in the kitchen alongside the Kitchen Coordinator at our day centre for rough sleepers

Related Articles

King's Volunteering
How I used my King's Service Time: Professor...
Professor Mieke van Hemelrijck uses her service time to volunteer as a governor for a school in South East London.
King's Volunteering
Volunteering with King's Sustainability
My passion for sustainability meant that I was able to find volunteering opportunities that align with my values and interests.
King's Volunteering
Let’s talk about periods.
Defined by the lack of access to hygiene facilities, menstrual products and education, Period Poverty affects millions of people who menstruate.