A kind word and a listening ear go a long way when it comes to staying mentally well. Gathering for a warm drink and a chat with people who care offers an opportunity for both. In Somerset, Open Mental Health’s community coffee mornings show just how important this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme of ‘Community’ can be—they offer more than coffee; they are welcoming spaces where you can discover connection, warmth, and mutual support, helping to overcome the loneliness and isolation many can face.
Jo Poole, Lived Experience Independent Co-Chair of the Open Mental Health Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise alliance, who co-runs coffee mornings in Bridgwater and near King’s Sedgemoor, knows their value firsthand.
“I have lived with severe mental illness for most of my life, but in the last four years, I have made a good recovery. I now volunteer in quite a few areas of OMH, and I really enjoy the work! Both coffee mornings are friendly, warm places where everyone is welcome and everything is free. They are also just a really great place to meet new people.”
Coffee and Care
The success of these gatherings lies in their simplicity and the friendly atmosphere created. Jo says the essential qualities for someone hosting a coffee morning are being “non-judgmental, kind, caring, and inclusive.” It’s about creating a space where “everyone who comes through the door is as important as the next.“
What are the ingredients for a successful coffee morning?
- A Welcoming Atmosphere: Warm, friendly, and open to all.
- Regularity: Running consistently so people can build the gatherings into their routine.
- Refreshments: Offering drinks (including decaf!) and snacks helps people feel comfortable and cared for. Everything is typically free to remove barriers.
- Focus on Connection: It’s “not about the number of people that you get through the door,” Jo says. Smaller groups can sometimes allow for deeper conversations and connections.
Community in Action Across Somerset
With the support of partners in the Open Mental Health alliance, which brings together NHS services, Somerset Council, and local Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, this community-focused approach is spreading across the county.
- In Bridgwater, the coffee morning co-run by Jo and Robyn Butler of OMH partner Second Step is held weekly at the Open Mental Health hub, 2 Fore Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3HN every Friday from 10 am to midday, except for the last Friday of each month.
- A Crewkerne ‘Chat Cafe’ meets at 3.30 to 5.00 pm on Wednesday afternoons at Bilby’s Cafe, 6 Market St, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7JY and offers a similar space to combat loneliness and share support. A wellbeing and recovery worker is on hand, too.
- In Frome, visit The Good Heart on 7 Palmer St, for free hot drinks and delicious cakes every fortnight from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, on the second and fourth Fridays of the month in a safe, welcoming environment where people can connect.
The Gift of Listening
Many people feel unheard and unnoticed in life. Jo says that coffee events “don’t have to fix people. Listening and letting people talk is the best gift that you can give them.” Helpers can gently point people towards OMH services if someone needs more support, and knowing about support options like Crisis Safe Space is helpful.
Excellent resources are available if you’re interested in developing your skills and confidence in having supportive conversations. Check out Somerset’s Mental Health Training Offer (healthysomerset.co.uk). Mind also offers free training on having conversations about mental health that only takes about an hour, and you can save your progress and return to it if needed.
We’ve created a wellbeing kit packed full of resources from our partners to help improve your mental, physical, and emotional health–take a look and discover new ways to Stay Well in 2025.
How to Contact OMH
We offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that people struggling with their mental health in Somerset can access the right support at the right time.
To make a self-referral, please call our team at Mindline Somerset any time of the day or night, seven days a week, locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692.
Alternatively, Mindline Live Web Chat is available via our website every day from 8 pm to 11 pm, or you can send us a message.