West Midlands Mayor launches Chatty Cafe in Wolverhampton

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street and Mayor of Wolverhampton Claire Darke were among the guests at the launch event at the Bob Jones Community Hub in Wolverhampton.

Both gave speeches on the scheme, which aims to have a "Chatter and Natter" table in every coffee shop and venue throughout the region where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to each other.

The scheme was started in Manchester by Alex Hoskyn, whose sister Jenny Bimpson spoke at the launch, and has grown to a national scheme, with Andy Street campaigning to get venues in the West Midlands signed up.

Thanks to the work done by Anita Patel and Sophie Todd, who work in public health at Wolverhampton Council, more than 40 venues in Wolverhampton have signed up to the scheme in the city.

Mr Street spoke about the lead Wolverhampton had taken in promoting the scheme and how it can benefit people taking part.

He said: "There's no question that Wolverhampton has been a leader in this scheme. It's an idea which is a few years old now, having started in Manchester and spread around, but there was an opportunity to do much more in the West Midlands and, in that sense, Wolverhampton has seized it and led it quite brilliantly.

"All the speakers today made the same point that there are people in our society who are very lonely, people who go from day to day without meeting somebody else, so this is just a very simple idea where you can go into a place that's safe and, by sitting at the table, just indicate you'd like a little chat.

"It couldn't be more simple and I think it will connect people across communities and people who may have previously never met before, so I think it's a very valid thing."

Many of the organisations who have joined the scheme were in attendance at the event, including Wolverhampton Central Library, Crafty Kids Cafe, Compton Care and Lakshmi Sweet and Restaurant, and tables were set up to allow these different groups to discuss the scheme.

Dr. Paul Darke, the Mayor of Wolverhampton's Consort, spoke about the scheme and how it will help people in the city.

He said: "I think Chatty Cafe's Chatter and Natter is a really good idea and it ties in very well with the Mayor's charities, which are Suicide Prevention and the Alumni Scholarship, but primarily Suicide Prevention because suicide can be the result of extreme loneliness.

"I think people who are successful in suicide need to see that there is hope and even if it's just talking to somebody else randomly to progress and see that there are alternatives.

"I would say that by participating, you could save someone's life and, at worst, you'll make someone's day better."

To find out more about the Chatty Cafe and see who is participating in the area, go to thechattycafescheme.co.uk.