SOCIAL inclusion group A Cuppa with Company is celebrating five years of bringing people together and breaking isolation.<\/p>\n
The group was set up by former Uniting Emergency Relief counsellor Angela Draper to provide a safe and warm space for people in need of support.<\/p>\n
Since its inception, over 6000 meals have been prepared and initiatives such as a Christmas toy drive and weekly bingo have started.<\/p>\n
Acting coordinator Sophia Walker said the weekly cuppa runs from 10am to 1.30pm with lunch provided, and usually 40 to 60 people turn up.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the people here are regulars they\u2019ve been coming for years,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes we get just the odd person dropping in just for a chat or a cuppa. They can talk if they want to, they don\u2019t have to, but it\u2019s a really good group to have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also see some of regulars take on worker roles, such as taking check-ins or running the bingo, little things that make them feel included.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Walker said anyone and everyone is welcome, from people simply feeling lonely to those who need extra support who can then be directed to agencies such as Haven; Home, Safe or Centre for Non-Violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe highlight for me has been seeing the relationships made between people who a few years ago didn\u2019t know each other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of them see each other outside of this program, they stay connected.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother highlight is when we\u2019ve had people who\u2019ve been in a difficult situation, and we\u2019ve seen them get jobs or get their house and have been able to be more comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Cuppa with Company meets every Thursday at the Uniting Church Hall on Forest Street.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SOCIAL inclusion group A Cuppa with Company is celebrating five years of bringing people together and breaking isolation. The group was set up by former Uniting Emergency Relief counsellor Angela Draper to provide a safe and warm space for people in need of support. Since its inception, over 6000 meals have been prepared and initiatives […]<\/p>\n