Action on Loneliness created opportunities for care home residents and local younger adults to become friends, supporting community connections and improving the wellbeing of bother older and younger people in Tower Hamlets.

This year-long pilot project was commissioned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, as part of their initiative to improve the wellbeing of care homes residents in the borough and build a stronger sense of community across the generations

Magic Me supported younger adult volunteers to connect and meet with care home residents who shared similar interests. Sporty volunteers popped in to watch the football results with sporty residents, others helped residents create a playlist of their favourite music or enabled residents to use an IPad to read the news together and discuss current affairs or even visit their childhood home via Google street view.  Bengali speaking volunteers were matched with Bengali speaking residents, providing a vital opportunity for a weekly chat.

You can see how the project benefited all involved in this video.

 I am completely over the moon with the progress I can see in Jim. The fact that before he would never come out of his room and his notes stated “bed ridden”…I just cannot believe this is the same man.

Andy, Volunteer

The project matched over 50 residents and volunteers across 6 care homes in the borough. Although the project finished in October 2016, many of the volunteers and residents continued to meet up each week with support from care staff.

Find out what we learnt in the project report here.

We would like to thank My Home Life a UK-wide initiative promoting quality of life in care homes for older people, who provided advice and support in the evaluation of this project.

This project was commissioned by London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Photos: Magic Me, cocktail party © 2013 Chiara Ceolin