We’re delighted to introduce three fantastic new additions to the engagement team at Nightingale Hammerson. Paolo, Christoph and Jakob have joined us through the Austrian “gedenkdienst” programme, an initiative for Holocaust remembrance that offers young Austrians an alternative to military service by working with Jewish organisations around the world.

Before coming to London, they journeyed through Poland, visiting Lodz, Krakow, and Warsaw, to deepen their understanding of Holocaust history. Paolo, inspired by a friend, saw this as a unique way to contribute. “Most people our age don’t realise it is possible to do remembrance work,” he says.

For Christoph, choosing this path over military service felt deeply meaningful: “I realised I could do something I would always cherish.”

Settling into Nightingale House, they quickly formed lasting bonds with our Residents, finding joy in one-to-one care and group activities like ceramics sessions. Jakob recalls his most moving experience—visiting the Imperial War Museum with Resident Wlodka, where they found a letter she wrote from the Warsaw Ghetto. “It was one of the most touching moments of my life.”

These three young men are now part of our Nightingale Hammerson family, bringing empathy, curiosity and dedication to our community.