Glenys Reid is the CEO of the Chatty Cafe Foundation in Australia, an initiative focused on addressing loneliness and social isolation through facilitating conversations in coffee shops and cafes.

Glenys has a background marked by resilience, shaped by her family’s experience, particularly her father’s time as a prisoner of war. Her family’s attitude towards life and survival has significantly influenced her approach to adversity. Glenys attributes her wisdom and values to the diverse experiences and cultures she encountered through her privileged upbringing, which included education, travel, and scholarships.

Before founding Chatty Cafe, Glenys worked in the corporate sector, facing mental health issues and employment challenges, particularly in 2017.

She places strong emphasis on the importance of physical fitness and its impact on mental health, advocating for the integration of physical activity and social connections in daily life.

She was inspired to start Chatty Cafe in 2019 after her own experiences of loneliness and social isolation led her to notice people sitting alone in cafes.

Despite various challenges, including national bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, she successfully launched Chatty Cafe and grew it to over 230 venues with more than 70 volunteers across Australia.

Glenys values kindness and social connection. She defines kindness as a competency and believes in the power of one person to make a difference, stressing the importance of listening to others’ stories and building meaningful relationships.

To help Chatty Cafe Australia keep making a huge difference to people’s lives we need your help. We want to expand from 200 venues to 2,000 or even 20,000 venues around Australia.

HOW?

Partner with us or sign up as a Chatty Café volunteer, venue host or donor.

Let’s prevent loneliness and social isolation together.

Glenys has been the driving force behind expanding the Chatty Cafe Scheme into Australia. We think Glenys is wonderful – and we’re thrilled to see her dedication and passion for our local communities across Australia recognised! Thank you to 7NEWS Australia for partnering with Awards Australia to shine a light on volunteers and grass roots community initiatives making a positive impact in our local communities across Australia. Stay tuned to hear from Glenys on Seven Network‘s Sunrise breakfast show Wednesday 20th December and help us tackle social isolation and loneliness!

We are very grateful to our passionate supporter Kerryn Powell and Your Time Matters (Australia) for recognising the importance of social connection. Chatting is such a simple concept but so important for mental and physical health. Loneliness can seriously impact a person’s sense of wellbeing and cause a range of disorders including anxiety and depression.

Come along on Boxing Day and join us for a pop-up picnic. Everyone is WELCOME!!

We invite all community members in Boroondara, Glen Eira and Bayside Melbourne to BYO picnic rug or chair and beverage of your choice. If you want to meet new people or just enjoy a social chat with others, come along and brighten your day. It’s free to attend and an easy way to chat and connect with your local community. No need to book, simply come along to sip, chat, share and care. Three locations to choose from!  >>See event flyer here<<

Hawthorn Pop-Up Picnic:
Look for the bright yellow Chatty Café teardrop banner in the park, near the Hawthorn Community Centre.
When: 26^th December 2023
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am
Where: Central Gardens, 30 Henry Street, Hawthorn.

Sandringham Pop-Up Picnic:
When: 26^th December 2023
Time: 10.30am – 12pm
Where: Sandringham Band Rotunda
(opposite corner of Melrose Street & Beach Road, Sandringham)

Watch free SBS on demand here

The dedicated chatty bench is signposted to encourage community members to take a seat, have a chat, and meet new people who are sitting there or wish to join a conversation.

It is a joint initiative of Mosman Council, Chatty Café, Mosman Chamber of Commerce and social enterprise One Another.

Read more here

Come along, meet the Artist and enjoy a good chat and company. Refreshments and bubbly provided to all Chatty Cafe attendees!

New research reveals 1 in 3 Australians from all walks of life feel lonely, however community
misconceptions and stigma are preventing them from talking about it. Left unaddressed, loneliness can lead to reduced work productivity, chronic disease, mental ill health and even an earlier death. Chatty Cafe Australia is proud to partner with Ending Loneliness Together as they launch Australia’s first Loneliness Awareness Week, calling on all Australians to learn more about loneliness so we can support the millions of people who are #LonelyNotAlone and take steps towards building meaningful connections.

Listen to personal stories, download free practical resources and complete awareness training to feel more confident in spotting the signs someone is feeling lonely and supporting them to find connection.

Read the research and get involved: www.lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au

Each June, partners at the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC) and Marmalade Trust, the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness and Far From Alone activate local communities, policymakers, and innovators to share resources, identify areas of collaboration, and educate the public on the importance of belonging and resiliency. Relationships across the globe elevate awareness of the crisis worldwide.