The wonderful Chatty Café movement has enjoyed an official launch in Bayside.
The program, bringing Baysiders together and helping combat isolation, is expanding locally and the Bayside program is being used as a pilot to potentially enable the roll out of Chatty Cafes across Victoria.
Community centres, Neighbourhood Houses and hospitality venues allocate a 'chat' table for the use of volunteer facilitators and community members.
Council is working with Chatty Cafe to enhance the program and get more local businesses involved.
We are proud to have supported them with a $7,500 Community Grant as it set up last year and the Victorian Government Regional Partnerships has provided $80,000 to help create local chat spaces.
The charity has a series of upcoming events and Zoom chats every Monday and Friday from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
Managing Director of The Chatty Cafe Scheme Australia, Glenys Reid said even with social distancing or staying home, "there are ways to keep our connections".
Minister for Local Government, Suburban Development and Veterans, Shaun Leane formally launched Chatty café at an outdoor event in Sandringham.
Member for Southern Metropolitan Region Enver Erdogan, Member for Sandringham Brad Rowswell and Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Fiona Patten were also at the launch along with Mayor Cr Alex del Porto and other VIP guests.
The first Chatty Café reconnect event is on Tuesday, 8 February from 10am until noon at Royal Brighton Yacht Club, 253 Esplanade, Brighton.
If you want to connect more with your local community, meet new people, or just enjoy the company of others - join the chat.
