In case you think, we’re just another coffee morning, we’re not – we’re a great deal more than that.
 
Rural communities are changing and nearly a third of England’s population now live in rural districts. The elderly, in particular, are often left isolated as children move away and the village has little left to offer them in terms of services and support. Young mums and other carers can feel cut off from their communities and in need of support.


In these difficult times, it is vitally important that people know where to access help if they need it, be it financial (e.g. benefits, help with debts), physical (e.g. mobility aids, health information) or even emotional support. The Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project is an inclusive independent charity funded by local councils, grant-making bodies and private donations. It provides support and guidance to rural communities and offers a place for people to meet and access to relevant information.

Many communities have very limited public transport, perhaps they have no pub or have lost their shop or Post Office. This can be a real body blow to some because it doesn’t only remove the service but also (and just as importantly), it removes the chance to meet other locals, to pass the time of day and generally interact as a part of everyday life. If there is no reason to go out to buy milk for example, or to collect a pension, then many people get out of the habit of going out at all, this in turn increases the instance of depression and loneliness. We can help by providing not only information but also a meeting place.

If we don’t have the information required, or the solution to a problem, we will try to find it and point you in the right direction.

We do not act as a counselling service, but an area of the Caravan is available for private conversation. Of course, not everyone will be in search of information or advice. If someone has just moved into the area, they might like to meet their neighbours. Even if they’ve lived there a while, there may be new people they haven’t had the chance to meet. In some villages, there’s nowhere to socialise and it can be hard to meet people if one is retired or working at home. A break for coffee and a chat could be the ideal way to make life that bit more interesting. We can also be on hand to offer support and information to any emerging village group, a toddler group, for example, or perhaps an over 60s club.



The Rural Coffee Caravan has been operating in rural Suffolk since 2003, concentrating on villages that have no village hall or one that is little used. We use two vehicles, a caravan and a camper van, to travel round and visit villages and village groups.


By providing an information service as well as a free community cafe with free tea, coffee and cakes, it serves many purposes; villagers can simply use it to be with fellow residents or even to meet them for the first time. Using us as facilitators in this regard, helps overcome any lack of confidence they may have developed because of feeling isolated.




As well as volunteers, the Coffee Caravan often takes along representatives from voluntary organisations such as Age UK and from local councils to explain what help and services are available to people. It also provides a useful place where community police officers get to meet the locals and chat about their concerns.

We make no charge for this service; all we suggest is that visitors may like to make a small donation. If you would like to know more please do get in touch.

Working together to combat loneliness and reduce ill health
The Campaign to End Loneliness is a nationwide campaign that is calling for more local collaboration between the government and voluntary organisations to reduce loneliness among older people, which could improve the lives and health of older people and in turn reduce health costs.

The Coffee Caravan is one of 75 organisations working on this initiative to combat loneliness. More information can be found at the campaign to end lonliness website

Laura Ferguson, who is the Director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, said “If you live on your own you can become lonely over time and, alarmingly, you are more likely to become ill and need more intensive health and social care support. Loneliness should be better understood and prioritised by all those providing support or contact to people in local areas, including health providers. Reducing loneliness is likely to reduce the vulnerability of older people and further health costs.”

Read the full Press Release about the Campaign to end lonliness.