The Friends of One Tower Bridge Road support the work of the home. Situated within walking distance of London’s Tower Bridge, One Tower Bridge care home is a purpose-built 128 bedded care home offering Dementia, Nursing, Residential and Respite care.
The Friends aim to improve the quality of life of the residents of the care home by working with staff, residents and relatives.
The Friends of One Tower Bridge Road are looking to develop services on the site. We have found that this is particularly valued by some residents who through deteriorating health do not have the confidence to come out of their rooms. Alongside this, we support the care homes’ activities’ coordinators by providing extra pairs of hands during organised activity sessions and outings.
Thanks to the Francis Winham Foundation
Friends receive £5,000 grant to benefit the residents of the home
The Friends of One Tower Bridge Road are pleased to announce that we have received £5,000 from the Francis Winham Foundation. The money will be used for the trolley service and special occasion treats.
Friends of Tower Bridge - Tim and Co op’s effort to help the community
Going through the hardships of recent times have reminded us just how important it is to connect with people around us. In a sentence: caring for the community. Friends of One Tower Bridge Road care home have found an ally that shares that vision. As Tim explains, connecting with what people need is Co op's goal, something they're very conscious of at the moment.
Tim is the Store Manager of Co op’s Tower Bridge branch, which is only a few minutes walk from the care home. He has years of experience working for the organisation, and he has run different stores in and out of London before arriving in the Bermondsey area roughly eighteen months ago. Last December, when one of his colleagues told him about the Friends of One Tower Bridge Road, Tim decided to reach out. They were keen to help people in the area, and with Christmas on the way, it was the perfect time to start. “The nurses and the carers at the Tower Bridge care home had done just a phenomenal job over the past year, keeping everyone safe, and it must’ve been really really difficult, so we just wanted to do a little something to say thank you,” Tim says.
Throughout the year, Co op runs several programmes about connecting with the neighbourhoods. Tim took advantage of this to gather funds. The Friends could use the money to buy drinks and crisps, fruit, mince pies, and Christmas cards for both residents and staff. Although they could not go inside, Tim and the team dressed up in their Christmas jumpers and went along with the Friends to collect the items and take them to the care home. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a normal year,” he says. “So it was an opportunity to help them enjoy Christmas and the festivity of it.”
Tim came to know more about the world of care homes through his granddad’s experience. He and his family had been looking for a place that felt comfortable and ensured the best possible care — this sparked in Tim a new awareness of the importance of care homes. He sincerely appreciated the service and support that his granddad received. “The relationship that they had built up was as strong as any that you can ever hope for,” Tim explains. The experience contributed to his will to give back. He remembered having a conversation with the Friends about the difficulties that managing toiletries for residents can present. Therefore, in June, he took advantage of Co op’s programmes once again to help acquire them. Friends could buy a mixture of essential items such as soaps, toothbrushes, shaving foams, deodorants, etc. — something hugely beneficial, especially for residents who don’t have families or anyone else to support them.
As Tim explains, there was an actual overlap between the work of the Tower Bridge care home and the Friends and the work that Co op is looking to support. Care homes play an essential role in looking after people who don’t have assistance and are on the fringe. Friends do a just as important job, supporting care homes and filling in what is missing. Coop is looking to help thrive such realities while encouraging its staff to develop a deeper understanding of what goes on in their surroundings. “I feel that that really matched out well with our values of caring for one another and for supporting stronger communities,” Tim says.
Tim is now keen to continue helping out. He hugely appreciates the invitation to join the Friends committee, from whom he has learnt a lot, he says; and which will allow him to bring his energy and enthusiasm while getting some interesting insights. The Friends of One Tower Bridge Road appreciate his and Co op’s help just as much. Such collaboration will help both connecting even more profoundly with the people around them, in a sentence: caring for the community.
Thank you again to Co-op

Co-op generously donated toiletries for residents
The Friends of Tower Bridge Care Home are really grateful to their local Co-op for generous donations of toiletries. These included shower gel, soap deodorant and shaving items. Big thank you to Tim and the team for helping us out with much needed items for residents.
Volunteering opportunities
We know your time is valuable and any time you can spare for us will make a big difference. You could volunteer at a one off event or regularly, it is entirely up to you.
If you don’t see a volunteering opportunity to suit you then please get in touch because we could develop an opportunity just for you. If you would like to volunteer please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Befriending
- A friendly approachable manner
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Helpful disposition with an interest in local community
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 1-2 hours a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Lunch Time Companion “Let’s Do Lunch”
- Patience and understanding
- A calm relaxed nature
- A friendly approachable manner
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
When: Monday – Sunday (Lunch Time)
How long: 1-2 hours a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Trips Out Volunteer
- Friendly and helpful with an interest in the community
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Patience and understanding
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 3 hours – 1 day per week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Pamper Session
- Friendly and helpful with an interest in the community
- You don’t need to be a qualified beauty therapist
- A gentle touch, a warm personality and a reassuring nature
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 30 minutes per resident - 1 day a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Befriending (Cantonese Speaking)
- Cantonese speaking
- A friendly approachable manner
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Helpful disposition with an interest in local community
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 1-3 Hours a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Befriending (Italian Speaking)
- Italian Speaking
- A friendly approachable manner
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Helpful disposition with an interest in local community
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 1-3 hours a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Trolley Shop Volunteer
- Good communication and organisational skills
- Friendly and helpful with an interest in the community
- Able to deal with challenging behaviour
- Cash handling
- Punctual and reliable
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 1 - 3 Hours a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk
Befriending (Greek Speaking)
- A friendly approachable manner
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Helpful disposition with an interest in local community
- Be able to speak Greek
When: Monday – Sunday (AM or PM)
How long: 1 - 3 Hours a week
How to apply: please download the application form and return by email to info@friendsofcarehomes.org.uk