CUPPA AND A chat By Andrea Rowe Photos Yanni
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acky Howgate loves a chat. And a cuppa. Which is a good thing, because she’s the volunteer coordinator of the Mornington Peninsula Chatty Café, a new scheme to get people talking and reduce loneliness. Originally from UK, the initiative is serving up company on the Mornington Peninsula – encouraging strangers to switch off their screens, sit down, meet a new face, grab a cuppa and have an old-fashioned chat. The concept has spread across the country, and with Chatty Café Australia now a registered charity, there’s more opportunities than ever for people to gather and connect. 55-year-old Jacky has led the charge for the Mornington Peninsula to grow this grass roots gathering; “I’d always wanted to give something back to community, and this felt like a really good fit for me.” Jacky says the Chatty Café model creates a safe and inclusive environment for people to talk in cafes or community gathering spaces, whether it’s for a one-hour chat or a longer stint. It costs nothing to attend, just the price of a cuppa and cake (though at the Community Houses and Information Centres cuppas are free). The benefits of making new friends or forming shared interest in communities are priceless.
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20 | PENINSULA
January 2022
UK Founder Alex Hoskyn formed the idea in 2017 when she was a new mum feeling isolated. Jacky felt an instant connection with the charity, which has gone on to receive the Innovation for Ageing Award from the International Longevity Centre. The Mornington Peninsula is the newest addition with Jacky championing the program for cafes and restaurants to dedicate one of their tables for patrons who are looking for company to gather and chat. Volunteer hosts help keep the conversation going. It’s not just cafes; libraries, and community and information centres are also getting in on the Chatty Café act in this grassroots campaign to build community. “We now have eight peninsula venues featuring cafe tables marked by a little yellow sign welcoming people to sit and enjoy a conversation.” Chatty Cafés aim to tackle loneliness by bringing people together. Australian’s have been struggling with isolation and loneliness during lockdowns, despite the increase in online interactions. Research shows that one in four Australians have reported that they experience loneliness and social disconnection every week. Since COVID times, that’s increased to one in two continued page 22...