The idea
The Meeting Place Café, with its Welcome Table is based at Crossroads Community Hub. It is a welcoming community café where people can come together, enjoy a piece of cake & a hot drink, build friendships, access support and feel part of their local community. As part of the Chatty Café Scheme, we host regular Chatter & Natter tables, encouraging conversation and helping people who may be feeling lonely or isolated to connect with others in a friendly, informal setting. Many local residents are experiencing loneliness, poor mental wellbeing and food insecurity. The Meeting Place Café provides an accessible, affordable space where people can find connection, practical support, and a sense of belonging as well as linking into other support Crossroads offers such as our food bank. Funding will help keep both The Meeting Place Café & our food bank open, covering staffing, volunteer support and essential running costs. During winter, the café also operates as a warm space.
What we'll deliver
- During winter months, the café will operate as a warm space with regular opening hours.
- Weekly Budgeting Support and other practical support sessions hosted in the café
- Outdoor signage inviting the public into the café
Why it's a great idea
This project will continue to create a welcoming community café that reduces loneliness, improves wellbeing, and provides access to emergency/affordable food in Chester.
Local residents will benefit from a safe, friendly space where they can meet others, build friendships, and feel part of the community. Older adults and people experiencing isolation will have regular social contact, helping to reduce loneliness and improve mental health. Low‑income individuals and families will benefit from low‑cost meals and a pay‑it‑forward scheme, reducing food insecurity and cost‑of‑living pressures.
Regular support sessions, including budgeting support and CV and job‑search help, will improve confidence, skills, and access to opportunities.
Volunteering roles will continue to provide 10–15 local people with experience, training, and a sense of purpose. The project will also strengthen community resilience by creating a warm, inclusive hub that brings people together, supports early intervention.
Steps to get it done
- Raise funds to sustain the café and foodbank.
- Support volunteers and maintain regular opening hours.
- Continue delivering social activities and support sessions.
- Provide a warm, welcoming space where people can connect and access help.
- Promote the services to ensure local residents know where support is available.
