By Isle of Wight Observer
A new friendship café has opened at Southern Housing’s extra care scheme in Ryde, offering residents a welcoming place to socialise and helping to reduce loneliness.
The café, at Ryde village, near Woodland View, enjoyed a well-supported launch, with many residents gathering to celebrate its opening.
Serving hot drinks, snacks and sandwiches, any small profit is put straight into the residents’ fund to support future activities and events.
Scheme manager, Samantha Cronnelly, said she wanted to create a space where residents, along with their friends and families, could form connections. She said: “A lot of our residents live alone, so it’s nice for them to have somewhere to meet up and have a chat, with the feeling that they’re out in the community.”
Residents were closely involved in setting up the café, choosing the name, designing the logo and helping with the day-to-day running.
For Steve, who previously worked in catering, volunteering has provided a renewed focus. He said he moved into Ryde village in March and wanted to stay active, despite recent health challenges, adding that helping in the café gives him the chance to mix with people and keep busy.
Jeanette, who has recently moved in, said she was impressed by the new facility. She added that it was “really nice to come and have a hot drink with others, instead of sitting in your flat by yourself.”
The café is already proving popular, and the team hopes to involve residents at neighbouring Woodland View in future plans.
