Bedford coffee mornings provide people with health and wellbeing advice

New community coffee mornings are providing people in Bedford with the opportunity to access health and wellbeing advice.

Taking place on the first Thursday of every month at Christ the King Church Hall in Bedford, the coffee mornings bring together local community groups and charities to provide local people with the opportunity to get any health and wellbeing advice they may need.

The coffee mornings were started in September 2022 by Terry Hayden, a Social Prescriber working with East Bedford Primary Care Network (PCN), a group of GP practices that covers some of the most deprived areas of Bedford.

Terry joined East Bedford PCN in 2022 and realised that they needed a way of reaching out to some of the patients who may not attend their GP practice regularly but may have some questions or issues they need advice about.

The local organisations that attend the coffee mornings change each month, but include organisations such as Age UK, Healthwatch Bedford Borough, Mind BLMK, Carers in Bedfordshire, BPHA, Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service, Sight Concern, Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College, and Tibbs Dementia Foundation. This means that local people can get access to information across a range of health and wellbeing areas.

“C”’s Coffee Morning Story

“C” is a 63-year-old woman from Bedford who cares for her elderly mother, who is living with dementia. C had been struggling for years with caring for her mother and needed some help. C noticed a poster for the coffee morning in her local post office and decided to attend to find out if there was anything that could be done to support her and her mother.

At the local coffee morning, C was greeted by a friendly group who were interested in listening to her about her struggles. They assured her that she no longer needs to feel alone and that there is help and support available to her.

C was introduced to the team from Tibbs Dementia Foundation, a charity which provide a wide range of activities to provide cognitive and physical stimulation for anyone diagnosed with dementia and those who support them. The team listened to everything she had to say and informed her about all of the activities and support they could provide to both her and her mother.

Since then, C and her mother have been attending various activities and support groups each week, which her mother is really enjoying. C is feeling much more supported and no longer feeling that she is struggling to support her mother.

Coffee Morning details

Local people are welcome to drop into the coffee mornings. There is no need to book.

Dates: first Thursday of every month

Times: 10am – 12pm

Location: Christ the King Church Hall, Harowden Road, Bedford, MK42 0SP