Liverpool Cares brings together older and younger neighbours to share time, laughter and friendship. It has suspended face-to-face programmes for now to help keep older neighbours safe and healthy but is developing new ways to bring the generations together from afar during the period of social isolation.
Community organisation Liverpool Cares has launched a matched crowdfunding appeal to enable the charity to support older people in Liverpool who will be affected by social isolation during the crisis.
Along with its sibling charities in the wider Cares Family, Liverpool Cares has already piloted online social clubs, telephone calls between younger and older neighbours and intensive outreach efforts to help older people stay connected. It has also encouraged younger people to share poems, stories, messages, drawings and games with older neighbours, and older neighbours to write back to their friends in return.
As the needs of older people develop, these methods will continually evolve.
Outreach Coordinator Rachael Treacher said:
“We work with older people who are most at risk of both Covid-19 and social isolation, and our work over the forthcoming weeks and months is now even more important than ever. Liverpool Cares will focus on maintaining the strong relationships with older people that we’ve formed over the past 18 months by staying connected to one another, even if this is from afar.
We’re so grateful of the kindness shown by people sending in beautiful messages and pictures that we are sharing around our network and with our older neighbours. It’s a true sign and representation of the positive and strong scouse spirit that constantly ripples through our city.”
As well as helping older people to connect to the local community, Liverpool Cares will offer information services and emotional and practical support.
The crowd funder was launched on March 18th 2020 – and all donations are being doubled by a generous supporter. The charity is aiming to raise £20,000.
DONATE TODAY AT www.crowdfunder.co.uk/staying-connected-covid-19-match-funded-appeal-liverpool-cares
