Weston-super-Mare Chatter and Natter Group Combats Loneliness With Tea, Conversation and Community Spirit
By Community Correspondent
A community scheme helping tackle loneliness through conversation, tea and laughter is proving a big hit in Weston-super-Mare.
The Chatter and Natter group at Café@The Campus in Locking Castle behind Morrisons is welcoming people of all ages every Friday, offering a friendly space where residents can sit down, chat and enjoy company without fear of judgement.
The sessions, held from 11am until 2pm, are part of the nationwide Chatty Café Scheme, which encourages people to connect through simple conversation.
Volunteer Jacqui Goldberg-Elliot says the aim is to make sure nobody feels alone.
“We would love anybody to come down who would like some conversation,” she said.
“There’s no judgement, no labels — just people sitting together, chatting and listening to each other. There’s tea, coffee, cake and a lot of laughter as well.”
The group meets at Café@The Campus in Weston-super-Mare, close to Jill Dando’s childhood home, and organisers say it has already become a welcoming place for people who may be isolated or simply want to meet others.
Jacqui believes projects like Chatter and Natter are more important than ever.
“A lot of people don’t talk to anyone,” she said. “Young people especially are craving interaction and connection, but sometimes they don’t know where to go for it.
“This gives people somewhere they can come, relax and just be themselves.”
The scheme was founded by Alex Hoskyn as part of the Chatty Café Scheme, which now operates in hundreds of venues across the UK, including cafes, libraries, hospitals and community centres.
He said: “A Chatter and Natter table creates a space for people to talk; whether it’s for five minutes while you drink a brew, or an hour of good conversation.
“We’re not trying to build friendships — just simple interactions that could make a big difference to someone’s day.”
