North London Food & Culture

Imagine if a night in was really your only option

North London Cares founder Alex Smith on why you should consider helping your older neighbours this Xmas

'What if you felt the local pubs and bars weren't for you anymore?' Photo: NLC
‘What if you felt the local pubs and bars weren’t for you anymore?’ Photo: NLC
It’s about this time of year that office thoughts turn to Secret Santa raffles, who’s snogging who at Christmas parties, and whether last year’s festive jumper will suffice (or whether it’s time for a dreaded visit to Westfield). In January, we repent – but for the next four weeks, for many, it’s shop, shop, shop, binge, binge, binge.

We’ve been on this loop for a while now, settling into a reassuring routine of mainstream mini-celebrations masquerading as counter-culture in the spirit of organised fun. Winter Wonderland, check. Faux hangover, check. Mistletoe, definitely check that one. OOO, check.

Maybe it’s just my age (I’m 34, I’m through with that) but the pro-routine can be a bit draining after a few years. It’s OK to keep up appearances for a while, but eventually you realise there’s one thing that’s so much better than a big December night out: a big December night in.

But imagine if a night in, instead of being blissful respite, was really your only option. Imagine if the cold days and the long nights kept you away from people rather than bringing you together; the ice on the road and the smell of pines a reminder of more connected days gone by.


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For many of our neighbours, and particularly those over 65, that’s what winter can be. Long. Dull. More than a little isolating. And for some, particularly the most frail, this time of year can also be straight-up dangerous. In winter 2014/15, the rate of excess mortality associated with the cold weather increased to its highest since 1999.

Thankfully, new numbers show that things improved last winter. Community and health organisations are finally beginning to focus on the imperative to keep older people well connected and to preventing illness from striking in the first place. That pro-active approach is fundamental to keeping our older neighbours warm, active, healthy and connected during the bitterly cold months.

That’s why North London Cares’ innovative Winter Wellbeing programme is so, so important. For the last five years, our young volunteers and staff team have knocked on thousands of doors of our older neighbours in Camden and Islington. They’ve taken hundreds of blankets, socks, coats and scarves to those who are feeling cold in their homes. They’ve connected neighbours in need of a bit of help to Council and other services.

And they’ve hosted dozens of warming winter social clubs – film nights, dance parties, pub clubs and business visits – that help our older neighbours feel a part of their rapidly changing city, rather than left behind by it.

A Singalong last Xmas on the Cally Road. Photo: NLC
A Singalong last Xmas on the Cally Road. Photo: NLC
This year, we’re running Winter Wellbeing again. We’re proud that young people in north London have led the way on pro-active campaigns to keep their older friends warm and connected during the harshest months. And we’re proud that so many people from Kilburn to Kentish Town, Camden to Covent Garden have taken our mission of bridging social and generational divides to heart, in winter and year round.

This year, we’re doubly thrilled that people beyond that network are able to contribute from afar too – by donating to fund the project directly for the first time. We’ve already raised £4,500 through small online donations to help fund this year’s work. We’re hoping that in the coming months we can at least double that amount. If you’d like to support the work, £10 will buy a blanket. £50 pays for a social club for scores of older and younger neighbours to enjoy together. You can donate here.

In this dramatic and, for some, wrenching year 2016, it feels more important than ever that we make an effort to connect – with people who are not like us, who come from different backgrounds, who’ve had different life experiences.

At this time of year, it’s too easy to double down instead of opening up. But by stepping out of our own comfort zones, and meeting neighbours who through their mischief and misadventure can surprise and surprise again, we can all easily connect with our communities, and do something altogether more meaningful this Christmas.

Alex Smith is founder of North London Cares. Follow them on @northLDNcares and head here for more info

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