Café Connect is a programme that brings the whole community together.
It can be used as a tool to welcome new arrivals, introducing them to host community members and local knowledge, or can be a way of bringing the broader community together, accessible to all and providing a positive focus, which makes it easier for people to make friends and form informal networks of support.
I’ve made new friends who I couldn’t have met otherwise. Café Connect made it so much easier to settle in to the UK!
The programme also helps develop volunteers. There are a range of opportunities to grow up new volunteers within it, including facilitation training, activity plans, and resources to support small group and whole group activities each session, and the flexibility to utilise the breadth of skills, interests, and talents individuals may wish to contribute.
Café Connect was funded 2022-24 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to welcome Hong Kongers arriving on the British Nationals (Overseas) visa to the UK, helping them to settle in, improve conversational English, make friends and navigate the systems and culture.
It ran in 4 regions: London, West Midlands, East of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
felt more connected to their community
had more friends from different backgrounds
used or registered for a new service/facility
felt lonely less often
Delivery of Café Connect funded by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was evaluated by Coventry University in 2023.