South London Cares
South London Cares was a UK charity (2014-2023) that ran free intergenerational Social Clubs, Love Your Neighbour one-to-one friendship matching and Outreach programmes in the Southwark and Lambeth boroughs to reduce loneliness among older (65+) and younger (16-35) residents as part of The Cares Family network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What South London Cares does
South London Cares was a UK-registered charitable organisation that operated from 2014 until its closure in November 2023, delivering free intergenerational programmes to reduce loneliness and bridge generational divides in the London boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth. It was one of five sibling charities under the umbrella of The Cares Family, alongside North London Cares, East London Cares, Manchester Cares and Liverpool Cares, and shared a common operating model with those entities. Its beneficiaries were two distinct personas within those two boroughs: older neighbours aged 65 and above experiencing isolation, and younger neighbours aged 16-35 experiencing urban loneliness, both of whom were brought together through structured activities and one-to-one matching.
The organisation ran a portfolio of free programmes anchored by Social Clubs (over 20 in-person, telephone or Zoom-based group activities per month spanning quizzes, workshops, dance events and cultural trips), Love Your Neighbour (a one-to-one friendship matching programme with over 170 active pairings) and a proactive Outreach function that identified isolated older residents through GP surgeries, supermarkets, libraries, faith groups and other community venues. Supplementary offerings included Winter Wellbeing (a seasonal project that recorded 1,649 conversations and 549 interventions in 2018/19), #AllTogether Activity Packs, Phone Social Clubs and Technology Workshops helping older neighbours use digital devices. The organisation held no proprietary technology stack beyond standard accessible communication platforms such as Zoom and email, and relied on a board of trustees, a small staff team and a community of volunteers for delivery.
South London Cares generated no fee revenue from participants, instead operating a donation-funded non-profit model in which community fundraising (sporting challenges, individual giving, business partnerships, online campaigns) historically contributed an average of 30% of income and reached roughly 40% by 2019, supplemented by grant funding from bodies such as the Cabinet Office and Nesta and by corporate sponsorships (e.g. Tideway for the Winter Party 2021). The charity received formal impact evaluation support from Renaisi between 2016 and 2019, evidencing outcomes such as 73% of older neighbours feeling less isolated and 98% of younger neighbours reporting greater community connection. After suspending face-to-face programmes during COVID-19 and pivoting to phone- and Zoom-based delivery from March 2020, the charity ultimately closed in November 2023 alongside the wider Cares Family network due to fundraising difficulties and insolvency.
South London Cares firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South London Cares
- Legal name
- South London Cares
- Website
- https://southlondoncares.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- South London Cares was a UK charity (2014-2023) that ran free intergenerational Social Clubs, Love Your Neighbour one-to-one friendship matching and Outreach programmes in the Southwark and Lambeth boroughs to reduce loneliness among older (65+) and younger (16-35) residents as part of The Cares Family network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South London Cares industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Community Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)
Keywords
Where South London Cares is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
South London Cares business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Community Fundraising: For nine years, an average of 30% of income was raised directly from community members through sporting challenges, community events, individual donations, business partnerships and online campaigns.
- Grant Funding: The charity received funding from government bodies and foundations including the Cabinet Office and Nesta through their Centre for Social Action Innovation Fund for evaluations.
- Corporate Partnerships: Local businesses and corporate partners contributed funding and support, including Tideway for the Winter Party event.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Social Clubs programme |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
South London Cares product offering
Product offeringCore offering
South London Cares was a UK charitable organisation that connected older neighbours (aged 65+) and younger neighbours (aged 16-35) in the Southwark and Lambeth boroughs through free intergenerational programmes. Its core offerings were Social Clubs (group activities held in-person, by phone and via Zoom) and the Love Your Neighbour one-to-one friendship matching programme, supported by Outreach work with local partners and Community Fundraising activities.
Product overview
South London Cares was a charitable organization offering a suite of interconnected social programmes designed to connect older and younger neighbours and reduce loneliness. The core offerings included Social Clubs (group activities across multiple formats including in-person, phone, and video), Love Your Neighbour (one-to-one friendship matching), Outreach (community-based identification of isolated individuals), and Community Fundraising (peer-led fundraising initiatives). Supplementary programmes included seasonal Winter Wellbeing projects, #AllTogether Activity Packs, Phone Social Clubs, and Technology Workshops. The organization operated from 2014 to 2023 in Southwark and Lambeth before closing due to fundraising challenges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Social Clubs: Group activities where older and younger neighbours meet, share experiences and build relationships
- Love Your Neighbour
- Outreach
- Community Fundraising
- Winter Wellbeing
Products and services
- Social Clubs Free group activities combining in-person, telephone, and Zoom-based social events where older and younger neighbours meet to share time, laughter, new experiences, and build relationships through activities such as quizzes, workshops, karaoke, hip-hop nights, choirs, dance workshops and cultural trips.
- Love Your Neighbour A free one-to-one friendship matching programme that introduces younger and older neighbours in Southwark and Lambeth to share time, laughter, and connection via phone, in-person visits, or a mix of both, typically spending about an hour together weekly.
- Outreach Proactive community outreach programme working with local partners across Southwark and Lambeth to identify and invite older and younger neighbours to join the community, including visits to chemists, supermarkets, GP surgeries, pubs, libraries, community centres, faith groups and local estates.
- Community Fundraising A fundraising programme offering challenge events, community events, corporate partnerships and digital campaigns that gave older and younger neighbours an opportunity to support and fund the network while building camaraderie and connection.
- Winter Wellbeing Annual winter outreach project helping older neighbours stay warm, active, healthy and connected during isolating winter months, including delivering warm items, offering small grants, connecting people to housing, finance and energy advice, and signing people up to year-round programmes.
- #AllTogether Activity Packs Free monthly activity packs sent by post or email containing creative activities for every week of the month, including prompts like writing letters, deciding on hypothetical scenarios, or creating abstract poems from newspaper words.
- Phone Social Clubs Telephone-based social clubs hosted over Zoom where participants join via phone, allowing neighbours without devices or technology knowledge to connect with others and take part in discussion groups on various topics.
- Technology Workshops Technology support sessions helping older neighbours learn to use smartphones, tablets and laptops, including setting up video calling and joining Zoom-based virtual social clubs, provided through one-to-one support and group workshops.
Quantifiable outcome
- 73% of older neighbours feel less isolated
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use South London Cares
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
South London Cares technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
South London Cares partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Age UK LambethcoreLocal Age UK branch that provided advice services for older neighbours referred by South London Cares. Example: Anthony was referred to Age UK Lambeth for financial and housing advice.
- RenaisicoreSocial research organisation that conducted a full-length evaluation of the Cares Family model, funded by Cabinet Office and Nesta through the Centre for Social Action Innovation Fund. The 18-month evaluation published in 2019 showed impact on loneliness and wellbeing of older and younger neighbours.
- GoodGymcoreVolunteer service that paired runners with older neighbours for visits. Example: Anthony was introduced to GoodGym for weekly visits alongside his Love Your Neighbour match.
- TidewayminorCorporate partner that sponsored the South London Cares Winter Party 2021, enabling a large community celebration with live brass band, Jamaican food, and raffle prizes at the Cinema Museum.
- Caribe (Brixton caterer)minorLocal Brixton-based catering business that provided Jamaican food for the Winter Party, supporting the local community while being supported by South London Cares.
- Local Healthcare ProviderscoreGP surgeries across Southwark and Lambeth referred isolated older neighbours to South London Cares programmes and served as outreach locations.
- Local Community VenuescoreVenues including supermarkets, libraries, community centres, faith groups, pubs, and betting shops served as outreach locations for identifying and engaging isolated older neighbours.
- The Cares FamilycoreParent organisation comprising North London Cares, Manchester Cares, Liverpool Cares, and East London Cares. South London Cares was one of five sibling charities sharing the same model and values. Connected during virtual events like Disco parties.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights4 records
South London Cares competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- GoodGym: UK charity combining running with social good, including weekly visits to isolated older neighbours — a partnership of South London Cares. Overlapping volunteer-run community engagement with older people who experience isolation.
Broad incumbents
- Age UK: National federation of local charities providing advice, befriending, and social programmes for older people across the UK. South London Cares referred neighbours to Age UK Lambeth for advice; broad overlap in target audience and befriending services.
- The Cares Family: Umbrella charity (parent) coordinating the five regional Cares charities, providing shared branding, evaluation, fundraising infrastructure, and central services. Materially related as the operating context in which South London Cares existed.
- Royal Voluntary Service: Large UK voluntary organisation providing volunteer-led social activities, hospital support, and befriending for older people. Comparable audience and volunteer mobilisation model at significantly greater scale.
Others
- Independent Age: National advice and befriending charity for older people. Thematically aligned on loneliness and ageing well but primarily a free advice/helpline provider rather than a community-orchestration model.
Direct peers
- North London Cares: First sibling charity in The Cares Family (founded 2011), running identical Social Clubs, Love Your Neighbour, and Outreach programmes in north London boroughs. Same model, same evaluator, same parent umbrella — the most direct comparability for South London Cares.
- Manchester Cares: Third sibling charity established in 2017 offering the same Social Clubs and Love Your Neighbour programmes to younger and older Mancunians. Direct geographic peer outside London.
- Liverpool Cares: Joined The Cares Family in 2018, replicating the Love Your Neighbour and Social Clubs model in Liverpool. Operates from the same playbook as South London Cares.
- East London Cares: Joined The Cares Family in 2019 and operates the same intergenerational social club and one-to-one friendship model in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. Closely comparable programme design and audience.
- Re-engage: UK charity running group social events, tea parties, and one-to-one befriending calls specifically to combat older people's isolation. Highly comparable mission, audience (65+), and volunteer-led service model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
South London Cares social profiles
Digital presenceSouth London Cares financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South London Cares leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
South London Cares funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
South London Cares M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about South London Cares
What does South London Cares do?
South London Cares was a UK charitable organisation that connected older neighbours (aged 65+) and younger neighbours (aged 16-35) in the Southwark and Lambeth boroughs through free intergenerational programmes. Its core offerings were Social Clubs (group activities held in-person, by phone and via Zoom) and the Love Your Neighbour one-to-one friendship matching programme, supported by Outreach work with local partners and Community Fundraising activities.
Is South London Cares a public or private company?
South London Cares is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was South London Cares founded?
South London Cares was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is South London Cares based?
South London Cares is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does South London Cares make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Community Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are grant Funding and corporate Partnerships.
Who are South London Cares's main competitors?
GoodGym is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Age UK, The Cares Family and Royal Voluntary Service. Independent Age is listed as an others. Direct peers are North London Cares, Manchester Cares, Liverpool Cares, East London Cares and Re-engage.
Does South London Cares have an API?
No public API is recorded for South London Cares.
What industry is South London Cares in?
South London Cares's product category is Charitable Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAF, Elder Services & Aging Support. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.