Get talking with a cuppa

By Lachlan Ellis

The last two years have had many people feeling more isolated than ever, but a local not-for-profit is inviting anyone and everyone to come have a chat.

Darley Neighbourhood House provides a range of programs and services, such as the Community Pantry and a range of workshops.

The latest program on offer is a local chapter of the ‘Chatty Café Scheme’, an international initiative to help people connect and open up on any topics they want to discuss.

The local chapter is a partnership between the Neighbourhood House and a Bacchus Marsh Café, where the Chatty Café sessions are run at 9am every second Tuesday.

Renee Knight from the Darley Neighbourhood House said the chats were an informal, simple way for people to stay in touch and meet new people.

“It’s pretty simple actually – every second Tuesday we set up a table at Little Lucky, and you don’t have to let us know you’re coming, book, anything like that. People can simply turn up, sit down, and have a chat,” she told the Moorabool News.

“It’s really focused on providing an opportunity for people to connect, potentially make new friends, and something to pop into your diary and do.”

Amber Kennedy is the smiling face people see when they come to the dedicated ‘have a chat’ table, and encouraged anyone, introverts and extroverts, to come and chat over a coffee if they felt the need.

“I guess this initiative is a way for people to know that they can start a conversation with a total stranger, and feel more comfortable with that conversation,” she said.

“We don’t talk about anything controversial…people get to share as much or as little about themselves as they like. It’s okay for anybody to come and have a chat…it’s really a place for everybody.”

Ms Kennedy said it helps people who wouldn’t naturally want to walk up to a stranger and start a conversation.

The first Chatty Café session at Little Lucky Café on Grant Street was held on 1 March, and the next will be on 29 March.

For more information on the Chatty Café Scheme, and other programs and services offered by Darley Neighbourhood House, visit www.darleylearning.com/whats-on.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-03-22/13

in the 22 March 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.