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Name: | Ashleigh Parker |
Age: | 25 |
Year of the Fix: | 2017 |
Location: | Brighton |
Campaign: | To encourage young people to befriend the elderly |
I first discovered how much the elderly have to offer when I taught the residents of a care home how to use Wii games consoles. I was 16 then and it was so much fun - I loved hearing all the residents’ stories.
One, called Charlie, had so many happy memories of his life working as a bricklayer, which he’d absolutely loved. He really inspired me.
For so many young people, life’s all about celebrities and money, image and fame. Charlie taught me that whatever you do, as long as you’ve adored it, you can be fulfilled by, and passionate about, the life you’ve lived. That’s what counts!
I later volunteered to visit an elderly lady for an hour every week. Apart from brief visits from carers, Pat spent her days alone and she wanted someone to chat and play Scrabble with. She was such a character.
Soon Pat was one of my closest friends – and she said she felt the same about me. Sadly Pat's died now, but she had such a positive influence on me. She taught me to always be myself and never let anyone else tell me who I can be.
I hope I can persuade other young people to visit a lonely elderly person and discover how incredibly enjoyable and rewarding it can be. An hour a week is not a lot to give but the impact on the person you visit is incredible. It makes them realise there’s someone out there who cares – they’re not alone.
The following Fixers helped me with my project:
Matthew James Turner
Georgia Sweeting
Lucy Cross
Eddie Flyte
Clement Mcculloch
Hannah Carter
Chelsie Brown
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Becky
Shak & Natasha
Me and my friends want young people to know that calories aren't the enemy!
Hannah Baker
Hafsa Ur-Rehman
Meghann
Timothy Cranfield
Jack H
Becky Thorn
Jade Kingdom
Fern Lulham
Ethan Mcinally
Sam Womack
Olivia G
Lauren Taylor
Shano
Jo Quinn
Ben Simms