Chatty Cafe Scheme UK – Chatty Cafe Scheme UK

What is The Chatty Cafe Scheme?

The Chatty Café Scheme is the UK’s leading non-profit organisation tackling loneliness.

We offer three services, all designed to reduce loneliness and/or social isolation. They include;

Face to face meet ups where venues offer ‘Chatter & Natter’ tables, where customers can get together and chat. We have hundreds of venues around the UK, many Chatter & Natter tables are hosted by Chatty Table Volunteers.
Online Chatty Cafe Sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm – 1:30pm. Anyone over 18 can join, simply to chat to others.
Telephone Friendship Service for anyone over 18 who is experiencing loneliness and could benefit from a weekly chat on the phone.

We have a wonderful team of volunteers who help deliver the above services. Please visit our ‘Volunteers’ page to find out more about our volunteering roles.

Pledge your support with The Chatty Café Scheme and Good Morning Britain.

The Chatty Café Scheme is proud to announce that we have teamed up with Good Morning Britain, to launch their 1 Million Minutes campaign, running throughout December 2023.

Now in its eighth year, the initiative aims to encourage the public to pledge their time to charities that tackle the issues of loneliness. Since launching in 2016, a staggering 522 million minutes of time have been donated to charities in need of volunteers who can connect with those who feel alone.

It has never been more important for us to talk about feeling lonely, as people around the country struggle with mental health and the acute isolation the cost-of-living crisis is continuing to cause millions throughout the country.

The Chatty Café Scheme has teamed up with the campaign, in a hope to train more fabulous volunteers to support the delivery of our services to tackle loneliness. Other charities involved who are doing incredible work include Alzheimer’s Research UK, Grief Encounter, Re-engage, Royal Voluntary Service and Home-Start UK.

For more information visit: https://www.itv.com/goodmorningbritain/articles/1millionminutes2023

To find a volunteer opportunity at The Chatty Café Scheme, click here: https://thechattycafescheme.co.uk/volunteer/

Find a Chatty Cafe near you

What they say

“I don’t consider myself isolated, but I’m looking forward to going to one of these, just to chat to people I don’t normally chat to, and be part of the escape from the ‘glued-to-a-screen’ culture”
Jane Dent, United Kingdom

“I have long periods where I don’t speak to anyone, I can go a few days without speaking to anyone. After the call I feel happier and calmer. It helps me feel part of things. At the end of each day I think, did I speak to anyone today? And Monday’s I always can say I did.”
Andy, Norfolk, Receiving weekly calls from a Chatty Volunteer

“It just helps to chat to someone to get things off your chest, after my call I feel a lot better.”
Amy, Oldham, Receiving weekly calls from a Chatty Volunteer

“Joining the Virtual Chatty Cafe allowed me to meet like-minded people from far and wide for interesting conversations which benefited me on both a personal and professional level as well as contributing to the community project I run. It was a great source of support to be able to meet with other people involved in promoting community well-being in various forms and it was fun too!”
Carol, Cornwall, after attending a virtual Chatty Cafe session

“A bit of honest laughter and conversation with so many different people in all walks of life makes you realise that many people suffer with loneliness and the lack of companionship. It also makes you more understanding of what other people are dealing with when all it takes is a conversation and a bit of understanding and kindness to make a difference. The Chatty Café Scheme is a simple idea which produces amazing results by just talking and communicating with others.”
Colin, Wolverhampton, after attending a virtual Chatty Cafe session

“I just wanted to say thank you for the service you provide. The weekly calls gave me something to look forward to and gave me confidence to make positive changes in my lifestyle. One phone call a week may not seem like much but it can make such a difference, it certainly did for me and I hope it does for others who also feel lonely and isolated. Thank you so much.”
John, Maidstone, a beneficiary of the weekly telephone befriending calls

“We’re part of this scheme and our Chatter & Natter table is used daily. You never know what people are going through and a nice chat can mean the world to someone.”
Mooplehog cafe, Okehampton, England

“I think the scheme is amazing, it certainly is making a difference here and I love seeing how it is spreading, you guys do a fantastic job.”
Red Lodge Sports Pavillion, Bury Saint Edmunds, England

“We joined the Chatty Cafe Scheme and we’re proud to say it’s going really well.”
Moments Cafe & Hub, Plymouth, England

“What a truly wonderful idea, imagine the healing that can occur over a cuppa.”
Hummingbirds Events & Workshops

“After the success of The Chatty Cafe at Morley Library, we’re going to roll it out to 3 of our libraries. We’re looking to expand The Chatty Cafe Scheme across Leeds.”
Leeds City Council, Leeds, England

“You should be very proud – our customers are absolutley loving it. Congratulations!”
The Daisy Cafe, Exeter, England

“The box of goodies is so useful. Thank you, I am so impressed with the Welsh translation too, it is important here! It’s a great help.”
Val Bethell, Cafe Owner, Wales

“We hold a Chatter & Natter table as part of The Chatty Cafe Scheme every Friday. We dedicate this table to those on their own looking for someone to chat to, whether its for five minutes while you drink a brew, or an hour of good conversation.”
Cafe Chaos, Truro, England

Our latest news

Posted on 04 Dec 23

Help tackle loneliness – pledge your support with The Chatty Café Scheme and Good Morning Britain.

Posted on 20 Nov 23

Ideas for finding a Chatter & Natter Table Host.