Volunteer Centre Hackney’s Together Better programme provides the opportunity for people to come together and build stronger connections within our community. One of those individuals is Olive, an 84-year-old who grew up in Scotland but moved to Hackney a few years ago.
With a limited social network and lack of family living nearby, Olive felt isolated and lonely and was keen to meet new people. Clissold Park PCN’s social prescriber referred her to the Together Better programme to support with finding an activity that she would enjoy and would enable her to meet other people in her community.
One of the activities run by Together Better that interested Olive was the Poetry for Wellbeing Group, as Olive saw them perform at Somerford Grove’s Healthy Heart Event. Olive had previously been encouraged to join this group but had lacked the confidence to do so. Having seen the group in action, and after talking to some of its members, she attended for the first time at the beginning of December 2025 and is now a regular attendee.
Since the first session Olive has become an active member of the group and never misses a session:
“I’ve really enjoyed coming to the group and it gives me something to look forward to each week. I also like that the lead volunteer for the group gives us optional homework at the end of the session as it helps me to have something else to do on other days.”
Attending the group has provided a significant benefit for Olive and given her the opportunity to engage with other individuals in the community who share the same love for poetry. She is always the first one volunteering to read her work out loud and loves supporting and encouraging other members of the group with positive feedback.
Reflecting on the connections she has built with other attendees and the opportunity to share her stories, Olive said:
“I love meeting other people at the group, they are very kind. It made me a little tearful when everyone sang me happy birthday. I love being able to write about my family history in particular, I get to think about memories from my childhood and share them with the group.”
The group started in September 2025 with the support of the Together Better programme and has been a huge success for Olive and the other attendees as Volunteer Centre Hackney’s Community Engagement Care Coordinator for Somerford Grove, Ellie, highlighted:
“It’s been a real pleasure to watch Olive and the rest of the group develop their creativity and confidence in writing poetry. The group is so supportive of not only each other’s work, but their general wellbeing. It is a truly welcoming space where participants are able to try out new things without any judgement or fear.”
The Poetry for Wellbeing Group is having a big impact on those attending and they are wanting to spread their creative wings even more. Looking ahead, the group are discussing the possibility of organising an open mic poetry event together over the next few months and attending the activity is something that Olive is keen to continue doing:
“I haven’t been coming for very long to the group, but I definitely want to keep going along, it’s made a big difference in a short space of time.”
Olive’s story provides an insight into how important social contact is in improving our wellbeing, boosting confidence and building stronger connections within our communities.
Volunteer Centre Hackney’s Together Better programme empowers volunteers to run free activities at GP surgeries, supporting the NHS and helping people to connect and stay active. If you are interested in attending or setting up an activity, find out who is your nearest surgeries’ Community Engagement Care Coordinator by clicking here.