c-a-f-e (coffee-and-friends-events)
is an initiative developed by the Rural Coffee Caravan to help to connect Suffolk community groups with organisations which can offer free support, advice, training & information, to help them flourish and become sustainable.


The c-a-f-e network offers groups access to useful resources such as:
- current information on things like neighbourhood safety, winter warmth initiatives and health & well-being
- free training courses for volunteers
- grant finding and funding for extra equipment, or development of community spaces.
We’re working with Suffolk Community Foundation, Community Action Suffolk, Suffolk Association of Local Councils and Healthwatch Suffolk to do this.
Groups can join the network in one of two ways:
- Your community can use c-a-f-e as an ‘umbrella’ to present a variety of different activities. This works well because it removes any ‘labels’ and is more inclusive. So, for example, ‘Great Byefield c-a-f-e’ could be holding a weekly ‘Coffee Morning’ for people living with dementia; planning an annual ‘Big Lunch’ and also holding monthly ‘Skills Swap Sessions’
- Alternatively groups can join using their existing club or event name, whilst being listed as a member of the c-a-f-e network.
Members are added to our interactive map so that people can find their nearest c-a-f-e events, and will receive a welcome pack containing useful information from each of the c-a-f-e partner organisations. We’ll also provide logos and templates to help you with promotion of your events and a window sticker to display to show you’re part of the network.
Download, print and share the flyer: c-a-f-e flyer pdf
For a list of c-a-f-e ‘coffee and friends events’ in Suffolk, click here or click on the map to find your nearest c-a-f-e event location.
Coffee Companions and Chat Mats

If you’re interested in our c-a-f-e (coffee and friends events) network then you might also be interested in hosting a Coffee Companions Hour as one of your events. Coffee Companions Chat Mats are a great tool for encouraging people on their own to strike up conversations. They can help people who might usually be sat on their own with a cuppa, to let others know they would welcome a chat and company, or on the flip-side would prefer to be left undisturbed. Take a look at our Coffee Companions page for more information.

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