10 great guardians
Karolina Gerlich: from volunteer to CEO of care workers charity the National Association of Care and Support Workers
Karolina became a Dot Dot Dot guardian in 2017, living in Canning Town, east London. When she wasn’t a full-time care worker, Karolina was spending much of her free time volunteering with the National Association of Care and Support Workers, acting as CEO. Find out from Karolina how guardianship and volunteering enabled her to gain a full-time paid role as the chief executive of the charity she had dedicated her spare time to.
Josh Babarinde: From Dot Dot Dot guardian to our non-executive board director
In 2015, Josh signed up as a Dot Dot Dot guardian. Throughout his two year guardianship, he was able to focus on establishing and growing his award-winning social enterprise, Cracked It. In 2020, Josh’s passion for fighting for a fairer future for all led to his election as an Eastbourne councillor. In the same year, he re-joined us at Dot Dot Dot in a slightly different capacity. Discover more from Josh as he plots his journey from guardianship to joining our board of non-executive directors.
Melody Abeni: Swapping London for Letchworth Garden City to develop her freelance writing career
Melody wasn’t intending to embark on a London hiatus, but when she stumbled upon our properties in Letchworth Garden City, she felt drawn to the leafy, pastoral town away from the capital. It was the perfect spot for developing her freelance writing and art career without committing to long-term change. Melody reveals just why the flexibility of guardianship is exactly what she needs during this period of her life.
Ailsa Robertson: Looking back at eight years of Dot Dot Dot guardianship
Our longest standing guardian to date, Ailsa, reflects on eight years of Dot Dot Dot guardianship. From embracing moving to new properties to forging long-lasting friendships with her fellow guardians, Ailsa returns to the early days of Dot Dot Dot to recount her side of the story. Find out how embracing guardianship to its fullest extent enabled her to experience the excitement and opportunities that London held.
Mark Muldoon: Dot Dot Dot guardian and our Relationship Coordinator
Property guardian of nine years and Dot Dot Dot guardian for one and a half of those, our Relationship Coordinator, Mark, delves into the detail of why guardianship works for him. From being able to live in an octagon-shaped turret bedroom in Notting Hill, to meeting like-minded people, he loves the exciting opportunities opened up by property guardianship. Mark walks us through why he’s not quite ready to hang up his property guardian hat just yet…
Tim Callaway: building strong connections with his community
When Tim moved to High Wycombe to become a property guardian in 2015, he was only intending it to be a short stop gap. But as more guardians moved to the area, it became clear that he was developing a strong connection with his community. Neighbourliness has always been a part of Dot Dot Dot’s ethos, and Tim tells us how he and his fellow guardians have helped improve the local area for residents by taking care of the outdoor spaces.
Serkan: saving for a mortgage with property guardianship
When Serkan joined our thriving community of guardians in central London, he had initially only been thinking of his short commute to work. But with the financial stability that came with monthly living costs being significantly lower than local market rates, Serkan was able to begin saving money immediately. After his partner Klaara also became a property guardian in late 2019, their savings pot steadily increased, and in March 2020 they were searching for their dream home to buy outside of London.
Maria Stoica: finding her feet in London at Oasis City Farm
When she moved to London from rural Romania, the stark contrast between city and countryside was for Maria, unsettling. But after becoming a Dot Dot Dot guardian in 2016, she began searching for a volunteering opportunity that could help her maintain a connection with the countryside. It also meant Maria was helping to make London a greener and more sustainable city for all.
Giles Morten: transforming his property guardian home on a budget
For Giles, property guardianship represents much more than simply inexpensive housing. For him, it’s a chance to establish his independence, channel his creativity and passion for interior design, and the platform he needs to kickstart life after university. We spoke to Giles about how he transformed his empty flat into a home that represents his artistic personality.
Delivering food parcels in his community: Daneel Phillips and Made in Hackney
We spoke to Poplar guardian Daneel back in April this year about his volunteering with Made in Hackney, a community cookery school that, when the pandemic hit, turned its hand to supporting vulnerable members of the local community. We recently caught up with Khin, Volunteer Manager at Made in Hackney, to see how they’ve adapted over the past 18 months and how volunteers like Daneel contribute to the direct impact they are making in their community.
