Rural Coffee Caravan charity appeals for organisations in Suffolk offering warm spaces to get in touch with them

Suffolk charity, the Rural Coffee Caravan, is 'planning ahead' for a challenging winter and wants to support any community buildings or businesses that will be opening up as 'warm spaces'.

Rural Coffee Caravan, is known in Suffolk for its Meet up Mondays, one of the key ways it works to tackle social isolation in rural communities.

Posting on Facebook, the charity said: "We humans are going to need each other more than ever and keeping connected is vital for every aspect of our health.

"Plus if we can see each other, we can support each other, cold and isolation are a lethal combination."

Speaking about the cost of living crisis, set to affect families over the coming months, they said: "The winter will be very challenging and we need to be planning ahead."

Earlier this week Suffolk Libraries said that 'they will welcome anyone looking to find a warm and friendly place' this winter.

Rural Coffee Caravan want village halls, churches, pubs and cafes, that are planning to open as warm spaces, to get in touch with them so they can add them to a map that they will be sharing throughout the winter.

On their Facebook page they suggested that community buildings could open for a couple of hours at set times 'where people can come and be warm and have a hot drink'.

Any organisations that want to contact the Rural Coffee Caravan, can email: info@ruralcoffeecaravan.org.uk

As well as the map, information about the warm spaces will also be added to the charity's newsletter mailing list and organisations will be updated with supportive information.

In 2019 the charity received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of the work they do across Suffolk.

They regularly arrange visits to villages in their caravan, or in indoor community spaces, at the visits they provide refreshments and chat to residents.

The visits also give the Rural Coffee Caravan volunteers a chance to provide information national agencies, organisations, activities and support services.

Meet up Mondays gives hospitality businesses, like pubs and cafes, the chance to strengthen their local community.

Venues supporting Meet up Mondays include the Greyhound in Ipswich and the Engine Room in Thetford, COMBAT2Coffee in Bury St Edmunds (on a Wednesday), and the Meadlands in Stowmarket (on a Tuesday).

More information about the Rural Coffee Caravan charity can be found on their website and social media channels.