A CAFE is hoping to end loneliness in Coventry and raise donations for a mental health charity and a city food bank.
Changamiri Coffee shop owner Hilary Chindgodo has launched a ‘happiness campaign’ which he wants the whole city to adopt.
Every Wednesday the cafe on Corporation Street in the city centre invites all customers to bring their own biscuits as well as an extra packet to be donated to Coventry Foodbank.
It has set up a donations pot for mental health charity Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.
It had already dedicated a table for people to sit together and talk – in an attempt to provide some solace to lonely people.
But now every Wednesday the whole cafe opens up and encourages people to talk to each other and make donations.
The cafe wants to promote happiness across the city and encourage its customers and staff members to stop to talk with people who look lonely.
It launched the campaign on Thursday, April 17, inviting the community to BYB (bring your own biscuits) on Wednesdays.
Mr Chindgodo said: “It was borne out of our motivation to end loneliness in Coventry.
“We spend the day in the coffee shop and get you to meet people and know the city.
“You get people who come in for a coffee or a tea and stay for an hour.
“We want to promote a happiness day across the city, where people do nice things like say ‘hello’ in the street.
“We want to make it day to be happy in the city.”
Bring your own biscuits on Wednesdays to the cafe from 9am to 5pm.
