Stockport’s Chatty Cafés combat loneliness for their customers
The Chatty Café scheme believes having a chat can brighten someone’s day and aims to get people chatting to help reduce loneliness.
The past two years have been hard for most people but faced with isolation and lockdowns, for some people it has been a very lonely time.
The Chatty Café Scheme began by encouraging cafes and other venues to have a Chatter & Natter table where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to other customers. Since Covid-19 became a pandemic, the scheme has also introduced weekly one-to-one calls and online Chatty Café sessions for anyone aged 18 and over.
Cassidy Bateson Coffee Shop Connector, Starting Point in Woodley
“We have a table in the coffee shop dedicated to chatting. There are signs that give people some prompts for conversations, but we tend to find people talk about anything and everything. I think lockdown and being apart has made us all appreciate connections so much more. We are always looking for kind local people to donate an hour of their time once a week to sit make sure no one is left out. It’s a chance to be part of our fab team, do something really worthwhile and enjoy a great coffee.”
Stockport has five registered Chatty Cafés – all of which encourage anyone to pop in, have a cuppa and enjoy some company. The Stockport cafés are at:
Walkers Retreat – 6a Mill Lane, Hazel Grove, SK7 6DS
The Seed Café – Marple Methodist Church Marple SK6 7AY
National Trust at Lyme Park – Disley, SK12 2NX
Start Point Coffee Shop – Woodley Precinct, SK6 1RJ
Mellors café bar – Romiley Precinct, SK6 4EA
Add your venue
There are many benefits of registering as a ‘chatty’ venue:
- Increased footfall
- Customers staying longer and spending more
- Repeat business
- Attract new customers
- Exposure on https://thechattycafescheme.co.uk/
- Connecting communities
- Doing good in your local community
Register your venue
Volunteer
Help combat social isolation and loneliness by volunteering your time and:
- Become a Chatty Table volunteer
- Become a Chatty Telephone volunteer
Become a volunteer – applications on hold to 1st March
Find out more at the Chatty Café website
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