Calling on Bristol’s cafes to make a difference, particularly among the older generation

Age UK Bristol, through its project Friends Ageing Better (FAB), has been working with cafes and businesses across Bristol to bring older people together to find out what’s going on locally, helping people make local connections.

We know that many older people can experience isolation, particularly after losing a partner or through reduced health and mobility, or retiring from their jobs. FAB works with local businesses and organisations to provide older people with incentives and opportunities to get out and about, meet neighbours and enjoy more of what the city has to offer.

FAB runs regular café meet ups, called ‘catch up cafes’ across Bristol to bring people together. These can happen in a number of different locations, in high street cafes, community centres, even in a Sikh Temple! We are calling on cafes to sign up to FAB and offer a discount for older people in Bristol and/or host one of our ‘catch ups’.

Cafes can offer a discount or incentive to encourage older people in on a particular day or time, to encourage more customers to come through the door during quiet times. By discounts for people at quiet times, you can also encourage older people in your community to get out and about and socialise.

For example, Boston Tea Party on Gloucester Road offers a reduction on tea and cake on a Tuesday afternoon during the monthly catch up café session. Other cafes like the Kingfisher in Fishponds, Buzz Lockleaze, and Hope Café in Lawrence Weston host FAB ‘catch ups’ regularly for people living in those areas.

FAB membership stands at around 1000 older people and growing – it’s completely free for over 50s to join and requires minimal information. FAB members are invited to catch up cafes in their neighbourhood, special events such as tours and talks at places of interests and discounts from cafes and local businesses.

If you run a business and would like to make it more age-friendly by encouraging older people to come as customers, please get in touch with the Friends Ageing Better team on 0117 440 4301 or email fab@ageukbristol.org.uk.