Telford Chatty Café aims to help combat loneliness
Older people in Telford will be able to get involved in a UK-wide project to combat loneliness.
The Telford branch of Costa Coffee will be taking part in the Chatty Cafe scheme, aiming to bring people together through coffee and conversation.
The aim of the scheme is to connect people from all walks of life who want to meet new faces and enjoy a little conversation. Bosses said it had been so successful in its initial form that it had already been rolled out across 150 UK cafes.
Chatty Café’s arrival in Telford on Friday brings its ‘Chatter and Natter’ table to Costa Coffee in Southwater Square.
Kelly Phillips, store manager, said: "We’re very pleased to be the latest store to take on this brilliant initiative.
"We have a great sense of community in Telford and hope that our new 'Chatter and Natter' table will bring local people together, helping those amongst us who might feel isolated.”
Costa Coffee’s Head of Sustainability, Victoria Moorhouse said: “Chatty Café is a fantastic initiative that we are very proud to be involved with. We’re excited to be announcing the 25th Chatty Café Costa Coffee store.
“Chatty Cafe is just one small part of the work our teams do in the local community as part of our wider Force For Good programme. Team members are encouraged to donate their time to local charities and causes to support their local communities – doing everything from litter picking to hosting community groups in stores after hours.”
Founded in Manchester by Alexandra Hoskyn, Chatty Café was inspired by a visit to a supermarket café with her four-month-old son.
Alexandra said: “He wasn’t great company and I was feeling fed up. I looked round the café and saw an elderly lady who looked just as down as me, and a young guy with severe additional needs with his support worker. I started to think about the positive impact we could all have on each other if we could all have a chat”.
As many as 46 per cent of UK adults report feeling lonely at least occasionally, the Office for National Statistics revealed.
Just over five per cent of respondents told them they often or always feel lonely.
