While looking after a young child can be very rewarding, it can also feel isolating at times, especially if you don’t have friends in the same situation. There are only so many times you can sing Old Macdonald before you start really craving adult conversation. And you have so many questions… Am I doing this […]
Loneliness is hard to cope with at any time of the year, but it can be particularly challenging during the festive period. Older people who live alone can find it especially difficult. According to Age UK, 2.3 million older people said they wished they had someone to spend time with last Christmas. Thanks to H&F […]
Atinuke (fondly called Tinu by her friends) is the Scheme Manager at John Betts House. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I moved to London from Nigeria 32 years ago and have been working in health and social care for 23 years, focusing on mental health, social care and housing. I am passionate […]
If you think you might be eligible, we'd be happy to give you a tour of our almshouses and share what it's like to live here.
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“I prefer the phrase ‘renaissance’ to ‘retirement’”
Ageism can be incredibly damaging. It limits older people through assumptions, not because of their actual ability. It affects how they’re treated in everyday interactions, education and the workplace, and it makes people feel devalued.
June 10th is Age Without Limits Day. The campaign by the Centre for Ageing Better aims to “create a society where everyone enjoys later life free from the impact of ageism.”
It’s a vision that’s very close to our hearts, as all our residents are over 60. Several of them are still in paid employment and many are still very active in the community in other ways, including through volunteering. As one of our residents, Siobhan, says, “Volunteering is a way of giving something back and helping others. It gives one a good feeling.”
Several of our team members are also over 60, including our Head of Grants and Community, Paul Robson, who joined us aged 65. He says, “I was working for Age UK, but I wanted to move to a smaller organisation with more of a local focus, where I could see the impact first hand.”
Changing jobs can be challenging at any age, but even more so when you’re approaching retirement. One in three people aged over 50 believes they’ve been turned down for a job because of their age, and the situation is likely to be even more difficult for those over 60.
As Carl Honoré wrote for Age Without Limits, “Older employees are routinely passed over for promotion, discarded first in hard times, denied training or given unfulfilling work.”
Paul says, “I did think, ‘They’re going to see from my CV how old I am, realise that I’m approaching state pension age and worry about how long I’m going to stay.’”
While ageism is a barrier at many organisations, we value experience. Paul has now been working at Hammersmith United Charities, part-time, for over three years. He’s considering stopping paid work next year when he turns 69. However, as he explains, “I prefer the phrase ‘renaissance’ to ‘retirement’. There’s this myth that as you get older, there’s an inevitable decline, and that when you stop paid work, it’s downhill, physically and mentally, from there. Losing the routine and structure of paid work does scare me a little, as does losing the sense of identity you get from paid work, but actually, this time can be really exciting.
“We all do a mixture of things throughout our lives – a bit of paid work, a bit of learning, a bit of caring for others, a bit of leisure time, maybe a bit of community work. How you balance that and use your time, effort, mental energy and physical energy, is in flux throughout your life; the size of each slice of the pie changes. There was a time when the caring slice of my pie was quite large, but now that’s smaller and I’ve slowly been reducing paid work while increasing my community work.”
Paul currently volunteers with Age UK Richmond and with Cocoon – a charity for young people leaving care. He wants to take up more volunteering opportunities once he’s finished paid work. Alongside volunteering, Paul is planning to make the most of his free time by staying physically and mentally active. Amongst other things, he wants to delve into philosophy and learn tai chi. As he says, “‘Lifelong learning’ might be a bit of a cliché, but it really is so important.”
One of Paul’s favourite pastimes is hiking in Scotland and the Lake District, particularly hill and mountain walking. “The Munros in Scotland are peaks above 3,000 feet. I’ve done around 68 of them. Some people try to climb all 282. A few years ago, a 79-year-old guy decided to do them all, and he did it in two years. I don’t think I’ll attempt that, but I do enjoy the experience of being outdoors and the physical and mental challenge of six-to-eight-hour walks, up three or four thousand feet, over 16 or so kilometres.
“I’m in a fairly privileged position in terms of health. I’ve invested in that by keeping active and through lifestyle changes, including drinking less and improving my diet.
“It’s all about investing in myself for the future.”
“You're making an impact”
Without volunteers on hand to fundraise, help with events and support service users, many charities would struggle to survive. However, volunteering doesn’t just benefit the community; it also brings with it a wealth of benefits for the volunteers themselves, from work experience and new skills, to new friendships.
While you can volunteer at any stage of your life, older people who are retired and don’t have to worry about childcare are often able to support in ways that others cannot.
One such volunteer is Lorraine, a resident at Sycamore House. Originally from Northern Ireland, Lorraine has lived in London for most of her adult life. When she retired from paid work, Lorraine started volunteering, first at Charing Cross Hospital and now for Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank at St Simon’s Church. We spoke to Lorraine about how volunteering has enriched her retirement.
I moved here in January 2022 and it’s been the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I am secure here; you can take part in as much or as little as you wish, and it’s a community. Chris [our scheme manager at Sycamore House, pictured above] is just amazing, as are the rest of the staff. All my family are back home in Northern Ireland, so it’s good to have the support here as and when you need it.
I celebrated my birthday on Saturday night with a disco down in the communal lounge. It was a great night and I think I’m still getting over the effects!
I was a key worker for young adults with learning disabilities. I thought long and hard about retiring, but I knew I couldn’t keep that work up forever. I thought, “What am I going to replace this with? Because I can’t just sit in here and tug on my thumbs!” I saw an advert at the hospital and have been volunteering for over three years now.
I volunteer at St Simon’s on a Thursday. People come in with a voucher; we sit down with them and do a picking list. They get a bag of fresh food, vegetables and fruit. Some days it’s extremely busy. Other times you get a rush at the beginning and then it tapers off.
We have a hub as well where they can go and have a hot meal. They can also apply for a SIM card and we can send people to places where they can get clothes. Each week is completely different.
You get to know the clients who come in regularly, and they get to know you. If I meet them in the street, they’ll say hello. If you’re not there, then they’ll say, “Oh, we haven’t seen you for a week or two. Were you away? Are you okay?” It really shows that you’re making an impact on them and it makes you appreciate what you have yourself.
I’ve made such a good circle of friends. We go away together. We’ve been to Harrogate and York and are planning to go to the Isle of Wight for a long weekend. They have parties in their houses and we celebrate birthdays together.
Before I started volunteering, my circle of friends was small, and it’s like a pond that has just rippled out and out. When I was at my party last week and I looked around, I really was moved, because I thought, “These are all people who are here for you – your friends, genuine friends.” It’s just wonderful.
Do you want to make new friends, learn new skills and give back to your community? There are hundreds of volunteering opportunities available across Hammersmith. You could help with admin, fundraising, packing food boxes or supporting vulnerable adults or children. Most community organisations rely on volunteers, so just get in touch to offer your support, or search for opportunities at www.linkuplondon.org
Helping children and parents to dance their way to fitness
Dance and music bring people together. They boost our mental and physical wellbeing, and they’re a lot of fun, whether you’re a child or an adult.
However, if you’re struggling to afford basic essentials like rent and food, then paying to attend a class is almost impossible.
That’s where WiggleWaggle World comes in.
The CIC was started by Keisha Morgan for low-income families in Hammersmith. She explains, “I was on maternity leave with my second daughter. I was taking her to early years music sessions, which were £15 to £20 for just one class, and thought, ‘What if you don’t have money, but you still want to do quality musical activities with your children? Where do you go?’
“So, I started running music and movement classes in children’s centres, nurseries and then primary schools. WiggleWaggle grew from there.”
The classes are inclusive and help to support gross motor, language and emotional skills, particularly for under-5s. They’ve proven very popular with children, parents and teachers alike, so Keisha is now delivering several classes a week, along with children’s parties and family-friendly community events. She shares, “It just lit a fire in me. There’s a real need for this, for the community, and I just want to take it as far as I can. Life is challenging for a lot of people, so if I can just spread a bit of togetherness, connection, joy and happiness for people in the community that I grew up in, then I want to do that. We’re having a great time!”
While Keisha’s main focus to begin with was young children, she soon realised that there was also a need amongst their parents:
“A lot of the parents want to exercise, but they don’t have anyone to look after their children, or they can’t afford to do things for themselves. Financial hardship shouldn’t be a barrier to stop people from exercising.”
Keisha started running free Zumba classes at Old Oak Community Centre, with the help of the Old Oak Residents’ Association, who also secured funding from Hammersmith United Charities. Elaine Chumnery, a member of the former Residents’ Association, says, “We recognised health inequality and the importance of reducing isolation, bringing residents together and improving lives.” When that funding came to an end, Keisha applied to HUC for a grant for WiggleWaggle. We were able to provide £2,530, which meant the Zumba classes could continue.
In many cases, the classes are the only organised activity that the women can do on a regular basis. The benefits extend far beyond the health impacts alone. As one participant shares, “Not only has it built up my fitness and stamina it has also built up my body confidence. With the cost of living as high as it is, I can’t afford gym memberships so this free class which is for the local community is brilliant. There are extra bonuses aside from the fitness too: you get to meet new people, make new friends, talk to neighbours you had never spoken to before (even after 20 [years] living on the same street!), laugh and have fun.”
Keisha adds, “Women say to me, ‘If I didn’t have this class, I don’t know what I’d do. This is my mental health support.’ The feedback I’ve had has been a real outpouring of love.”
As well as the Zumba classes, Keisha used her grant to throw two community parties, one of which was a Christmas party with food, drink, entertainment and a visit from Father Christmas.
Keisha also has big ambitions for WiggleWaggle, including reaching more families in the borough. She’s already running a daytime class where women can bring their babies, and she plans to apply for more funding so that she can offer free childcare alongside the evening classes.
She adds, “I threw a party for the parents of WiggleWaggle children, which went down really well, because they never really have a night off. The opportunities are endless; we could have retreats; we could get a coach to the seaside and do WiggleWaggle on the beach…
“This is my community – I grew up here, I went to school here – so it’s really nice to connect with families and give something back.”
You can find out more about WiggleWaggle on Instagram @keishawigglewaggle
Come and join our friendly, hard-working team!
Job Description
Job Title: Assistant Community Gardener
Accountable to: Head of Housing & Property
Direct reports: Community Gardner
Liaison with: Residents, contractors, volunteers, staff, and visitors
Salary: £28,000 PA (pro rata)
Location: The postholder will work across the Charity’s two almshouses, John Betts House and Sycamore House (housing for older people), both in Hammersmith
Hours of Work: 4 Days/30 Hours Per Week with occasional out of hours working
Job Purpose
Work jointly with the Community Gardener to ensure the Charity’s award-winning communal gardens are cared for and maintained to the highest standards. Use your skills, knowledge, and experience to ensure the gardens provide a warm and inviting space for residents and visitors throughout the year. Develop opportunities to involve residents in gardening activities to improve their health and wellbeing.
About us
Hammersmith United Charities was founded in 1618 and makes grants to community organisations helping local people address complex social issues such as poverty, inequality or mental ill health. We also have two almshouses in Hammersmith, for older members of our community. Over the years, our gardens have been developed to ensure they are not only beautiful, but creative spaces where our residents can get involved if they choose or simply relax and enjoy. The gardens are based on organic principles. They include plants that attract butterflies, bees and birds, and plants that are stimulating in colour, aroma and texture. Residents can tend to their own hanging baskets, pots and allotments and get involved in various gardening projects and workshops that are run to help and support residents in engaging with the gardens. Our gardens have won many awards at the London Garden Society competition, which are judged according to Royal Horticultural Society guidelines.
About you
This is an exciting opportunity for a hardworking, professional gardener to continue the fantastic achievements of previous gardeners alongside our Assistant Community Gardener. We are looking for someone who has a wealth of demonstratable knowledge and experience, with the relevant horticultural qualifications to support this. Widespread experience and expertise in a range of gardening disciplines/techniques is essential as well as an open mind to continuous development and learning new skills.
The successful applicant must be self-motivated with the ability to manage and motivate to achieve the highest standards. You will demonstrate a track record of leadership in managing and/or developing similar environments. We are looking for someone with imagination and flair, an understanding of community organisations who has good communication skills, a caring disposition who is empathetic, with an unrelenting capacity to encourage and support our residents.
5 years + experience in a similar role or position is desirable and a relevant horticultural qualification along with an eye for detail, the ability to take responsibility, act decisively and the ability to turn your hand to most tasks, is essential.
This is a physically demanding role, working outside all year round, in all weathers. The role involves carrying out tasks requiring high levels of manual dexterity, as well as physically demanding tasks, such as trimming hedges, shovelling, digging, mulching, lifting and carrying.
The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS Check.
We value and respect all the differences that make us who we are, including age, cultural background, disability and mental health, ethnicity and race, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and social background.
How to Apply
The closing date for all applications is at noon on Friday, 5th June 2026. Applications will not be accepted after this date and time.
Please email the completed application and your CV to lisa.dasilva@hamunitedcharities.com and use the subject line: Assistant Community Gardener. If you require support with completing this application form, or for an informal chat, please contact Victoria Cripps on 07909 203 924.
