I have just listened to the Reasons to be Cheerful Podcast No 98. “SMELLS LIKE COMMUNITY SPIRIT: bridging the inter-generational divide” in which the two inspiring interviewees have, I believe, redesigned how volunteering organisations can work. I’d already known of Ivo Gormley, who started GoodGym do good, get fit, and he was joined by Alex Smith From the Cares Family, which sets up networks of young professional and older neighbours.

Both organisations work with “volunteers” and are breaking down divides in communities and tackling loneliness. It’s easy to prejudge who are the volunteers and who are the beneficiaries in a relationship. But when you listen to the passionate and articulate pair you realise we are often wrong because it can be very empowering to be the person who provides the help. As Ivo Gormley says “we are are all only a tiny moment away from being the beneficiary”.

You can listen to this podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reasons-to-be-cheerful-with-ed-miliband-and-geoff-lloyd/id1287081706?i=1000446128921