Southwark Circle Connects Older People

Southwark Circle, a social organisation of over 50s, was set up in 2009 to help older people remain part of society and make new friends. In addition, the organisation also provides practical help for people who need it.

The Circle has grown to include 860 members, who pay an annual fee of £20 or £10 for those who receive their newsletter and events calendar online. Events that members could attend include theatre trips, guided walks, lectures, meals, and so on. Some of these events are offered for free, while others include a fee.

When joining, members will be invited to buy tokens, which can be used to pay for outings or buy services. Each token, for example, can be exchanged for an hour’s labour from one of the neighbourhood helpers associated with the Circle.

According to a report in The Telegraph, the 150 helpers include students, housewives, retired professionals, and others. The “labour” involved could include anything members need help with, such as learning to send a text message, hanging pictures, and shopping.

In this way, Southwark Circle addresses a social issue that has given the Government an increasingly intense headache over the last few decades: caring for an increasingly aged population; a population that is increasingly lonely and cut off from the world around them.

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