Connecting with others

It’s really important to spend time with others, make friends and build a social and support network for yourself in your local community.

There are lots of groups in the community where you can socialise, make friends and go to events and fun activities as a group.

Be Connected Programme

Chatty Benches

The Chatty Bench initiative was started by the Campaign to End Loneliness. Signs have been installed in various community locations across the borough to help bring local people together by simply sitting down and having a chat outdoors, in their local environment.

Take a look at their website to find a chatty bench near you.

Chatty Cafés

The idea of a Chatty Café is to encourage people to sit and chat with others, especially people who may be on their own. Go to one of the cafés, look out for the Chatty Café sign on one of the tables, order a drink (feel free to tell the staff you’re here for the Chatty Café).

You can stay for five minutes while you have your drink or longer - It’s completely up you. It’s not about making life-long friends (although you never know), just having good old fashioned human interaction!

Take a look at their website to find a café near you.

Men in Sheds

Men In Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. At Breaking Grounds Shed, we look upon our Shed as a collective group of people working towards a common goal.

Our pilot shed is based in the grounds of Chargeable Lane Resource Centre, which has been converted to include a workshop and social area. Every Tuesday 12:00 – 16:00.

Visit their website for more information and for locations