The Chatty Café is celebrating its first year of success, and now has up to 40 people attending to enjoy a bowl of soup and welcoming company each week.

It meets at Bideford Library each Thursday, 12pm to 1:30pm, and it provides a safe space for people who may be feeling lonely or be experiencing other problems.

Its focus is on encouraging people to meet and chat over a simple lunch.

One of the regulars is Will. He credits the Chatty Café with easing his loneliness and having a major impact on his wellbeing.

“The stress and loneliness of COVID-19 left deep scars on many single people,” he said. “Adding the Chatty Café and library to my weekly routine has had a positive effect, and I have recommended it to others. They even provided gluten-free soup for me. I felt quite moved by that kindness. Individually these caring gestures are helpful, but collectively they have had a powerful accumulative effect, emotionally healing.”

Cindy also attends the Chatty Café.

“I suffer with mental health issues and I feel as though I can go to Chatty Café no matter what I have going on and there would be someone there to listen to me if I ever needed to talk,” she said.

Rachel Tettersell is Bideford Library’s Supervisor.

She said: “Loneliness can literally shorten your life. According to the Campaign to End Loneliness it has an increase of risk of early mortality by 26%. It can also put people at greater risk of poorer mental health including depression. It’s been a pleasure to see how well the Chatty Café has gone in the last year and we want to see it continue to go from strength to strength.”