{"id":65718,"date":"2025-03-19T16:54:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=65718"},"modified":"2026-01-26T17:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:38:34","slug":"bideford-librarys-chatty-cafe-celebrates-its-first-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/bideford-librarys-chatty-cafe-celebrates-its-first-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Bideford Library\u2019s Chatty Caf\u00e9 Celebrates its First Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Chatty Caf\u00e9 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its focus is on encouraging people to meet and chat over a simple lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the regulars is Will<\/strong>. He credits the Chatty Caf\u00e9 with easing his loneliness and having a major impact on his wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The stress and loneliness of COVID-19 left deep scars on many single people,” he said. “Adding the Chatty Caf\u00e9 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Cindy also attends the Chatty Caf\u00e9<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I suffer with mental health issues and I feel as though I can go to Chatty Caf\u00e9 no matter what I have going on and there would be someone there to listen to me if I ever needed to talk,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Tettersell is Bideford Library’s Supervisor. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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She said: \u201cLoneliness 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\u2019s been a pleasure to see how well the Chatty Caf\u00e9 has gone in the last year and we want to see it continue to go from strength to strength.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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