Café Connects are weekly activity sessions, lasting two hours, involving tea and coffee and a variety of activities.   

Hosted by a small team of trained volunteers, delivery will include ‘meet and greet’ style sessions with participatory storytelling, highlighting shared values, and encouraging participation and learning across cultures. Activities will include introductions to life in the UK; signposting and registrations for local services, schools and childcare, job agencies and employment schemes; opportunities for English-language learning; and, for people of faith, introductions/welcomes with local faith groups. 

Each café session will be supported by a session plan and materials, with a variety of activities that can take place on tables in the café session. Each hub will receive a kit with resources for core activities, including a Community Information Toolkit, language activities, crafts, and games.  As the volunteer team get established, they may choose to add in activities of their own celebrating the particular skills and interest of their team or beneficiaries.

Everyone is welcome. Café Connect aims to bring the whole community together, rather than being exclusively for Hong Kongers. We are, however, expecting to see a significant impact on new arrivals from Hong Kong in terms of well-being, connection, and practical aspects of transition into the UK.