16 June 2026

A friendly cuppa, wherever you are: the power of our virtual coffee mornings

As we mark Loneliness Awareness Week, we are celebrating the connections and friendships that help residents feel part of a community and sharing Leslie’s experience of our coffee mornings.

For the past six years, our virtual coffee mornings have been a much-loved regular get-together, taking place via Microsoft Teams.

These sessions have provided residents right across the country with a regular opportunity to connect, chat, and enjoy a friendly catch-up, all from the comfort of home. Whether it’s sharing stories, meeting new people, or simply having a laugh, the coffee mornings have become a valued part of many residents’ routines, helping to build friendships and reduce feelings of isolation. As one of our core Be Connected activities, they play an important role in bringing people together and supporting wellbeing.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has joined us over the years and helped make these sessions such a welcoming and supportive space.

Why Leslie values our virtual coffee mornings

Leslie, aged 93, who lives at Ingleborough in Middlesex, has been joining our virtual coffee mornings for the past few years. For Leslie, these sessions have become a valued part of his weekly routine and something he genuinely looks forward to.

Being on your own can be quite lonely at times and when this coffee morning came along, it was great, and it encouraged me to join. I found it very useful. I look forward to Tuesday mornings and meeting new people.

Leslie describes the sessions as a real boost to morale, offering a relaxed and informal opportunity to connect with others. The sessions often include guest speakers, and for Leslie, one particularly memorable talk focused on the Second World War.

The coffee mornings boost my morale; it’s an informal chat without any shop talk. I can talk to people without worrying about anything else. The latest coffee morning brought back memories from my childhood and gave me the chance to reminisce and share my experiences.

One of the things Leslie enjoys most is the opportunity to meet new people from across the country.

I enjoy meeting people I have never seen before and from different places. We can put the world to rights; you wouldn’t get a chance to do this otherwise.

Before retiring, Leslie spent over 30 years working as a Black Cab driver in London, a role that brought him into contact with people from all walks of life.

I loved my job as a cab driver; you meet so many people every day. I even met Princess Diana, some of the Beatles and other celebrities. You just never know who you are going to get in the back of your cab. You had the freedom of London. It was like a mystery tour. It’s amazing what people talk to you about.

Even now, Leslie’s passion for connecting with others continues through his volunteering. He supports people in a local hospital, helping older visitors find their way around and feel at ease.

I talk to people to settle them and make them feel comfortable. I just love talking to people.

Alongside these experiences, the social element of the virtual coffee mornings remains just as important to Leslie.

Everyone gets along and has a laugh. You get to know different things about people and the areas they live in.

The coffee mornings are held online which is no barrier to Leslie, who finds the sessions easy to access:

I find it very easy to follow the link and join on Microsoft Teams.

And for anyone thinking about giving the sessions a try, Leslie has a simple message:

Just try it and see. You will probably want to come back again. Taking the first step is the most important – you won’t regret it.

Leslie is also a keen advocate of our Chatty Bench initiative, helping to raise awareness of the importance of staying connected and encouraging others to start conversations and build meaningful relationships within their communities.

Find out more about all the ways you can Be Connected

Be Connected supports and encourages Anchor residents to connect and engage with others through a variety of initiatives that looks to combat loneliness and reduce social isolation.

There are a number of initiatives that sit on different platforms that are accessible to support residents including our: