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Community cafe helping to tackle loneliness

James Grantand
Annabel Amos,Northamptonshire
News imageJon Hasslam Four people of varying ages sit round a table in a cafe or restaurant, all wearing warm knitted clothing, looking at the camera. There are mugs on the table. There are people sitting and talking in the background at other tablesJon Hasslam
About 90 Brackley residents visit the town's chatty cafe venues each week

A community project aimed at reducing loneliness says it has more than tripled the number of people it supports since it was set up.

The Chatty Cafe Scheme in Brackley, Northamptonshire, where locals meet for social interaction, was introduced to the town in 2022.

It welcomed about 20 to 25 people each week in its first 12 months, but has since expanded to three venues, and now hosts between 80 and 90 people weekly.

"I always remember the first week; I had no idea if anyone was going to turn up," said Jon Haslam, who set the group up after taking early retirement.

"Now it's grown and grown and it's now a really beautiful part of the community. I'm immensely proud."

News imageJon Haslam A man in a black jumper with a black lanyard sits next to a woman with a yellow lanyard and a man in a cream jacket. They are sat at a dark wood table smiling at the camera. A yellow mug and leaflet is on the table. Jon Haslam
Brenda Pears (centre) and Nigel Parsons (right) are regulars at Jon Haslam's chatty cafes

The not-for-profit Chatty Cafe Scheme has about 750 participating cafes across the UK.

Haslam said the common thread among attendees was loneliness, whether caused by bereavement, moving to the area, divorce or the isolation of working from home.

"The age spectrum varies, the youngest is 30 and the oldest is 96, and we've got people from all different backgrounds," he said.

"The atmosphere is very upbeat, people leave their problems at the door and just enjoy their time [at the cafe].

"We're not typical of the chatty cafes nationally. People come because of word of mouth and people are even socially prescribed to go by local GPs. It's a growing community and there's scope for more."

'It's vital'

Two regulars, Brenda Pears and Nigel Parsons, met through the scheme and say it has had a lasting impact on their lives.

Parsons began attending after losing his partner in 2022.

"I soon realised it wasn't a clever thing to sit in the house alone. I saw a chatty cafe poster and went down to the Lounge Bar [in Brackley]," he recalled.

"I think it's vital, I don't know what I'd be doing without it."

Pears said she first attended after living alone for several years following a divorce.

"I liked it from the first time. I felt very comfortable, people were very chatty and friendly," she said.

"It's made a massive difference to my life in terms of increasing my social outlets."

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