NEED A CHAT OR SOME COMPANY?

MeetUpMondays™. If you find yourself on your own quite a bit and could do with some company and a chat, or you’re new to your local area and would like to get to know people, then why not give MeetUpMondays a go? Pubs and cafes across the county which are part of the network have a weekly warm welcome and a free cuppa waiting for anyone on their own. They don’t always take place on a Monday, they are taking place on other days throughout the week. Find your nearest host venue by entering you postcode on our interactive map

Men’s Breakfast Hub from ActivLives offers a friendly supportive community space for men aged 45+ to meet up and share an informal chat as well as enjoying a bacon roll. Taking place on Wednesdays at the CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich, IP2 8RE between 10am – 12pm and is £5 per session. The hub is a good way to link to many other ActivLives activities. For more information contact Alison Pearson on 01473 345350

Coffee Crawl Coffee Mornings from the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust are open to all service users, their families, and carers to get together in a relaxed environment to share lived experience and support each other whilst enjoying a cuppa.  The Coffee Crawl meets on Wednesday morning from 10.30am – 12pm and visit a different coffee shop in the Ipswich area each week. To view the locations click on the image below or visit the NSFT website 

The Exchange is a new monthly ‘Men’s Meet Up’ which is starting on Monday, 4th July. It is taking place from 7.30pm – 9.30pm at the Diss Youth and Community Centre. Shelfanger Road, IP22 4EH. For More info contact Gary on 07714 100032

Could you be a Befriending Community Hero? Communities Together East Anglia  would like to hear from you if you enjoy a chat and like helping older people.  For more information call 01449 707030 or email volunteering@communitiestogether-ea.org.

‘Keep In Touch’ is a new service from The Suffolk Coalition of Disabled People – SCODP.  The project is funded by Disability Action and East Suffolk District Council. If you would like a regular friendly chat, or you know someone who would, or if you would like to have an online chat, then KIT (Keep in Touch) is a service which offers exactly that. In these times they understand that there isn’t the opportunity to have so much contact with the people who would normally make a difference to your day. So if you feel that this is for you or would like to make a referral, you can give them a call on 07708 473197. For an online chat about KIT please send an email to Brenda Joyce. Other enquiries about SCODP can be made to 01473 557577, or by  emailing their enquiries address.

The Silver Line is a confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. They also offer telephone friendship, matching volunteers with older people based on their interests,  plus facilitated group calls, and helping to connect people with local services in their area. Call Silver Line on 0800 4 70 80 90.

Suffolk Night Owls is an emotional support service run by Suffolk Mind and available by telephone, text or email. Experienced staff will be there to listen and provide impartial support to you and any information needed. The telephone support line is open 7 nights a week from 7pm to 1am. Find out more about how you can register for this service on the Suffolk Mind website or call the enquiry line on 0300 111 6000. Once registered the Suffolk Night Owls contact number will be provided.

Re-engage Companionship If you are 75+ and would really benefit from some much-needed companionship, Re-engage can help.  Their volunteer ‘Call Companions’ are on hand to listen and chat on a regular basis.  For more details on this service  call Re-engage on 0800 716 543 (All calls are free)  or visit their website 

Independent Age Helpline If you or someone you know is in  need of help and support, Independent Age has a free helpline available that you can call. Their friendly advisors  can help with advice on a variety of subjects including money, care, health and more.  Tel: 0800 319 6789  or alternatively there is a  webchat option by clicking on the yellow ‘Need Help?’ box on their website

Emotional Wellbeing Hub Helpline Barnardo’s have introduced a new phoneline service for emotional wellbeing information, support and resources aimed at parents, carers & young people. The helpline number is 0345 600 2090 (option 2) and is available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. 

Trans+ Support Service  THE OUTHOUSE & the NHS are offering a new bespoke support service throughout Suffolk and North East Essex helping  for individuals aged 16+ across multiple formats.

• To transgender
• Non-binary
• Gender questioning
• Support for carers/family
• Support & advice about de-transitioning.

For more information on the service contact trans.support@theouthouse.org.uk