We spent the afternoon visiting Age UK Lewisham and Southwark’s (AUKLS) Stone’s End Day Centre, located just off Southwark Bridge Road.

The Centre specialises in working with older adults who have care and support needs. They support their members to remain healthy and independent for as long as possible and work closely with social services, partner organisations, families, carers, and professionals to build strong relationships to ensure each person receives the highest care possible. The Centre also supports and encourages members to rekindle old friendships and make new friends. Anybody over 50 are always welcome to drop in.

When meeting the key staff on-site, Brenda, Jeff and Michelle, it was obvious to see how important these individuals and services are to the elderly community of Southwark, who, were enjoying the benefits of some recent technological advantages – in the form of voice recorded photo albums – which record a memory that you can playback, and Tovertafel ‘Magic Table’, a virtual and interactive A.I game that allows the members to play football – all becoming quite competitive according to the team.

Other key services include, the beloved therapy room, which houses a hair and nail salon, along with a foot treatment service called ‘Happy Feet’ – very popular, and a Handyperson service that can help with a wide range of small jobs to help older people and their carers live safely and independently at home.

Special thanks to Jeff, Brenda, Michelle, Cecilia, Marina, Yazmira, Michelle (staff) and Sue, Mary (volunteers) – incredible to see the impact they’re having on their communities within the borough.