Austrian volunteers have positive experience at London care home
29 Aug 2025
3 min read
This #GoodNewsFriday we're hearing from Nightingale Hammerson about their positive experience hosting three young Austrian volunteers.
Nightingale Hammerson were pleased to recently welcome three young Austrian volunteers to one of their care homes in London.
Paolo, Christoph and Jakob joined the team through the Austrian Auslandsdienst programme, which offers young Austrians an alternative to military service. In Austria young males can choose between six months of military service or nine months of community service.
The three young men were profoundly moved by their time at Nightingale Hammerson. For Christoph, choosing Auslandsdienst over military service was a life-changing decision. He said:
I’ve learned to value my independence and build soft skills. I’m so much more confident now than when I arrived. But the best part has been the close bonds I’ve formed with the beautiful residents at Nightingale House and Hammerson House.
Living at Nightingale House, the volunteers quickly became cherished members of the Nightingale Hammerson community, forming meaningful relationships with residents and staff alike.
They were overwhelmed by the warmth and openness of our community, the dedication of the engagement teams and the rich variety of activities on offer.
The team at Nightingale Hammerson expressed that the volunteers had become a treasured part of the Nightingale Hammerson family, and they're deeply grateful for the compassion, insight and energy they offered their residents and community.
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