YOU won\u2019t find a commercial coffee machine or barista making your drink at the Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre\u2019s Chatty Caf\u00e9, but you will find smiling faces and a chair waiting for you.<\/p>\n
The Chatty Caf\u00e9 Scheme is a global initiative aiming to connect communities in hospitality or other social venues by designating a table where strangers can sit together and talk.<\/p>\n
It was launched at the Long Gully site a few weeks ago and community development worker Kerry Parry said it was helping people rebuild their self-confidence when they need it most.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people are pretty shellshocked with COVID, social isolation is such a big deal for most people, and I think we\u2019re all a little bit nervous about re-entering society and mingling again,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we wanted to be able to do was encourage people to come and gather together in a safe way and, particularly because many cafes still haven\u2019t opened up their full space for people to sit and have coffee together, we thought it was an ideal opportunity to say \u2018okay, let\u2019s have our own Chatty Caf\u00e9 here\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we want to be able to do is provide a safe place for people to gather and connect with other people just tentatively, just a tiny little step.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under current COVID-19 restrictions, the Chatty Caf\u00e9 space can hold 12 patrons at its scheduled session every Tuesday morning from 10am to 12pm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get pretty close to that each time,\u201d Ms Parry said. \u201cAt this stage, we\u2019ve not had to turn anybody away, which has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new initiative is an extension of offerings the centre has made to its community throughout the pandemic, like their New Beginnings newsletter which Ms Parry said helped regulars stay in touch.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, it\u2019s about helping people understand that they all have a place, everybody\u2019s welcome at the table,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want their self-esteem to grow, we want them to be able to say \u2018hey, I belong. I can connect in here and it doesn\u2019t matter who I am or what my past has been, I\u2019m welcome here because this is a neighbourhood centre\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
YOU won\u2019t find a commercial coffee machine or barista making your drink at the Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre\u2019s Chatty Caf\u00e9, but you will find smiling faces and a chair waiting for you. The Chatty Caf\u00e9 Scheme is a global initiative aiming to connect communities in hospitality or other social venues by designating a table where […]<\/p>\n