by Elim Lau | Jun 5, 2025 | Love & Community
From launching a parents’ group in Barnsley to volunteering, Julia Jones has dedicated her life to lifting others. In the early morning, long before the school bell rings, Julia Jones is already up, preparing for another packed day. Julia’s world is whole as a...
by Rosie Wallace | Jun 4, 2025 | Love & Community
Male isolation is a growing crisis among older men, but across Britain, workshops known as Men’s Sheds are becoming places of friendship, learning, and hope. We reveal how practical projects are creating powerful change. In towns, cities, and quiet corners of the UK,...
by Joe Sledge | Jun 4, 2025 | Love & Community
Where funds lower, volunteers rise – how community members have pulled together to sustain a centre that’s so much more than a building to its members, and volunteers. Community support and volunteering John is a pensioner who lives alone and has volunteered at...
by Amber Smith | Jun 3, 2025 | Love & Community
Emaan Hamna Ibrahim is not spending her weekends watching cartoons or scrolling on a tablet. Instead, she’s creating handmade jewellery to raise funds for food and hygiene packs that she distributes to people experiencing homelessness in her hometown. Emaan’s journey...
by Holly Robson | Jun 3, 2025 | Love & Community
Here at the Optimist we are celebrating Pride Month this June, and want to spotlight some LGBTQIA+ creators that we think you should be following. We also want to raise awareness for some LGBTQIA+ charities to help boost support for them, as well as promoting some...
by Zain Durrani | Jun 3, 2025 | Love & Community
From a single bench outside his home to a growing network of libraries, planters, and bird boxes, Alex Russell-Bates is reimagining Ruislip’s streets with a DIY spirit and a vision for better community infrastructure. Outside of 33 year old Alex Russell-Bates’ home in...
