Epping Care Home Hosts Chatty Cafe Scheme to Combat Loneliness

An Epping care home is opening its doors as part of the Chatty Cafe Scheme, which aims to reduce loneliness and encourage people to come together and talk.

The Chatty Cafe Scheme is a non-profit organisation tackling loneliness in the UK and Weald Hall Care Home will be hosting its own Chatter & Natter sessions.

Taking place in Weald Hall’s dining and bakery area, the cafe will be held on the first Friday of every month between 2pm – 4pm with the first event taking place on 2 June. Visitors to the home can enjoy some tea, cake and a good old natter with staff, residents and other chatter & natter guests.

Anyone is welcome to attend Weald Hall’s Chatty Cafe, whether it’s alone, as a couple, with a young child or as a carer. The events are an ideal way to meet new people in the community for a chat.

The scheme was founded in 2017 by Alexandra Hoskyn OBE, who started it due to her own feelings of isolation when visiting a supermarket cafe with her baby. She noticed that no-one was talking to each other.

After putting ‘Chatter & Natter’ signs on tables in local cafes, she found people were beginning to talk and the scheme quickly grew in popularity.

Coventry University published a report in May 2022 that found 100% of Chatter & Natter table users said it made them feel less lonely and socially isolated. 97% of venues hosting these events felt they were encouraging community spirit.

Weald Hall home manager, Danielle Barham, said:
“We know only too well the impact of loneliness on the community and we want our home to be a welcoming environment for everyone that visits us. Our residents love to meet people, and it helps them to form new friendships..

“We make it our mission to encourage social interactions wherever possible and that’s why we wanted to bring in a Chatter & Natter table.
“It’s for the whole community to use and we hope it will allow people a safe and inspiring space to have a chat.”

To attend the cafe, visit Weald Hall and make your way to reception where you will be shown where the cafe is located. If you’d like to find out more about the scheme, visit https://thechattycafescheme.co.uk/.