Two Peckham-based women, who are nearly 50 years apart in age, have a new-found friendship thanks to a scheme that helps to tackle loneliness in people living alone.
Local charity, Link Age Southwark runs a befriending programme – where they match older people who live alone with volunteers to help them feel less lonely.
Paula, who lives in Peckham, became interested in the scheme after losing her partner, Carly, after 27 years together.
“Someone suggested it to me about eighteen months ago. So I thought ‘Oh that would be lovely’ – then nothing happened.”
Paula explained she had to wait a while for any response as they were short of volunteers. Meanwhile, she said life was getting harder.
“I was sitting at home like a dummy just staring out the window,” she said.
“I could feel my brain all getting washed out – like I was a zombie.”
As well as losing her partner, she also recently broke both her hips and wrists.
“I was in pain and I was feeling fed up.”
Then about four months ago, she said a light came into her life: Kila.
“When they said they had found someone, I wondered about what she’d be like. It didn’t matter if she was old or young – but what if she was boring or doesn’t like me?
But the moment they met, Paula said those worries went away.
“They told me she works for herself and immediately I was interested – because that’s what I always did.”
“She said she had a dog – he really reminded me of my old dog.”
The pair are nearly fifty years apart – but they told us their similarities mean they don’t even notice the age gap.
“She brightened my life,” Paula continued, “she gave me something else to think about.”
She added that she hopes they carry on being in each other lives.
Kila said she looks forward to meeting up with Paula, which they aim to do once a week.
The 38-year-old creative director lives in Peckham but is relatively new to the area. “I wanted to find a way to get more involved with the community here – the real community,” she said.
“I started meeting Paula – she tells incredible stories. I look forward to it every week. I love learning about her life – it’s very different to mine.
Over the past year, the charity has been responsible for 199 befriending matches in Southwark.
Kila said she started volunteering for the scheme after losing her grandmother – who she said she was close to.
“She lived until she was 99 – and I just imagine how lonely she would have been if she didn’t have us around her.”
Evidence shows that loneliness leads to an increase in GP visits, earlier entry into residential care and is a contributor to depression. Over 9,000 older people live alone in Southwark and that figure is rising every year. Deborah Hyde, from Link Age Southwark, said they are desperately looking for more volunteers.
This story and others like this will be featured in Link Age Southwark’s 30-year anniversary photo exhibition – which will take place next Saturday, July 15 at Dulwich Picture Gallery.
The 30th-anniversary event will run from 7 pm until 10 pm, and as well as the exhibition, there will be live music, a bar and canapés.
Tickets cost £55 and can be purchased here.