Balwyn Evergreen Centre to launch Chatty Cafe
The Balwyn Evergreen Centre has launched a new season of courses and programs to help older people build strength, protect their independence, navigate services and develop meaningful social connections.
The expanded program at the Victorian community centre includes a revamped strength and balance circuit, a second 10-week falls prevention course, a free four-week driver refresher course and the relaunched weekly Chatty Café.
The first session of Balwyn Evergreen Centre’s Chatty Cafe will take place during Loneliness Awareness Week, which runs from 3-9 August.
The theme for this year’s Loneliness Awareness Week is Make Room for Connection, and for Balwyn Evergreen Centre this message is particularly relevant to older people who are living with mild dementia or cognitive decline, as they can sometimes feel like social spaces are no longer built with them in mind.
The Chatty Cafe will be open every Wednesday from 10.30am to 11am – the busiest time at the Balwyn Evergreen Centre, with Supported Lifestyle Program clients sharing morning tea with exercise clients who have finished strength, balance and falls prevention classes.
People can sit, talk and feel involved in the centre’s everyday life while also providing a gentle way for potential Supported Lifestyle Program clients and their families to be introduced to the centre in a friendly, non-clinical environment.
Balwyn Evergreen Centre chief executive officer Tina Hogarth-Clarke said some of the most important moments at the centre happen over a cup of tea – when people feel seen, included and comfortable enough to start a conversation.
Tina Hogarth-Clarke (supplied)
“Loneliness can be particularly difficult for people living with cognitive decline or mild dementia because social settings can start to feel uncertain or overwhelming. Our Chatty Cafe is about making room for people exactly as they are, in a place where they can feel welcome, valued and part of the community,” Ms Hogarth-Clarke.
The Chatty Cafe Scheme is a global social initiative that aims to create places for people to sit and chat together to reduce isolation. The Australian branch was founded by Melbourne-born, Canberra-raised Glenys Reid in 2019.
The first Chatty Cafe started in 2017 in the United Kingdom, founded by social worker Alex Hoskyn. It has since expanded to United States, Canada, Gibraltar and Poland.
It is designed to encourage cafes, community centres, libraries and other venues to create regular opportunities for people to connect through conversation.
Ms Reid, who is also chair and managing director of the Australian branch, said Balwyn Evergreen Centre was a natural fit for the scheme because connection is already a part of its daily life.
“Chatty Cafe works because it removes the awkwardness of starting a conversation. A table, a smile and a clear invitation can be enough to help someone take that first brave step,” said Ms Reid.
“Balwyn Evergreen Centre understands social connection supports belonging, health, confidence and wellbeing. By adding Chatty Cafe to their program of activities, Balwyn Evergreen Centre is creating a beautiful bridge between people, programs and friendships.”
Building on the social activities, health and wellbeing programs, exercise classes, outings and dementia-friendly day programs that have been helping older people in Boroondara stay active, healthy and socially connected since 1958, Ms Hogarth-Clarke said the Chatty Cafe will open the door to even more people in the local community.
“We do not want connection to feel formal or forced. We want it to feel natural, generous and easy to step into,” said Ms Hogarth-Clarke.
