Compassionate Cafés

Our Compassionate Cafés are drop-in sessions, in local cafés and venues, providing a welcoming space for people affected by any type of loss.

Compassionate Cafés

Who is this service intended for? Anyone affected by loss or loneliness

Where is this service provided? With local partners across Herts and Bucks, please see timetable below for list of locations and timings

When is this service available? Various - please see timetable below for list of locations and timings

About our Cafés ​

Rennie Grove Peace’s Compassionate Cafés ​are drop-in sessions in a local venue or with a local partner. They provide a space for members of our community who have been affected by any type of loss and would like to come along for a friendly chat and a chance to meet others over a cup of tea.

There is no need to book, so please just come along. ​

Where this service is available

Compassionate Cafes

Our catchment area spans West Herts and Bucks. We launched our first Compassionate Cafés in and around the Watford area but are working quickly to expand.

Compassionate CafeAddressDay/time
The Kitchen, Croxley198 Watford Road, Croxley Green WD3 3DB1st Friday, 10:00am-11:00am
Café West (partnership), West WatfordWest Watford Free Church (Baptist), Tolpits Lane, WD18 6NU3rd Tuesday, 9:15am-12:15pm (clo9sed 19th Dec 2023)
Red Trust (partnership), BusheyRed Café, Phoenix Centre, Farrington Avenue, Bushey, WD23 3DG1st Saturday, 11:30am-1:30pm
Inspire All (partnership) Borehamwood96 Shenley Road Community Hub, Borehamwood, WD6 1EB1st & 3rd Thursday, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Loaves & Fishes Café (partnership), Potters BarChrist Church Little Heath, Great North Rd, Potters Bar, EN6 1JNBEvery Wednesday, 10:00am-12:00pm
Wigginton Community Shop & Café (partnership), WiggintonThe Sports Ground, Chesham Road, Wigginton, HP23 6HH1st Wednesday, 1:30pm-3:00pm
Well Bean Café, Harpenden Trust (partnership), HarpendenHarpenden Trust Halls (above the Co-op), 130 Southdown Road, Harpenden, AL5 1PU1st and 3rd Tuesday, 2:00pm-3:30pm. Launching 7th November 2023
Cottonmill Community Café with Leeanna's Wish (partnership), St AlbansCottonmill Community & Cycling Centre, Cottonmill Lane, St. Albans, AL1 2EF Last Tuesday, 12:00pm-1:30pm. Soft launch 28th November 2023, full launch 30th January 2024
Cross Street Café with Dagnall St. Church (partnership), St AlbansCross Street Centre, 1 Cross Street Café, Cross St, St Albans, AL3 5EE  2nd Thursday, 10:00am-11:30am. Launching 14th December 2023
Jersey Farm Café with Ridgeway Church (partnership), St AlbansJersey Farm Café, Jersey Farm Community Centre, 3 St. Brelades Pl, St Albans, AL4 9RG 2nd Friday, 2:30pm-4:00pm. Launching 12th January 2024
St Saviours Cafe with St Saviours Church (partnership), St Albans St Saviours Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4DF 2nd Tuesday, 2:00pm-3:30pm. Launching 12th December 2023
Café on the Corner with Camphill Village Trust (partnership), St Albans39 Catherine Street, St Albans, AL3 5BJ3rd Saturday, 10:30am-12:00pm. Launching 20th January 2024
Random Café (partnership), North Watford24A Garsmouth Way, Watford, WD25 9DR3rd Thursday, 10:00am-11:30am. Launching 18th January 2024

Compassionate Café Pop-Ups

Compassionate Café Pop UpAddressDay/timeDetails
TRDC Healthy Hub Compassionate Café at Oxhey LibraryOxhey Library, Bridlington Road, South Oxhey, WD19 7AG12:00pm-2:00pm, Thursday 30th November 2023, 18th January 2024, 21st March 2024.This café is run in partnership with Healthy Hub, Three Rivers District Council
TRDC Healthy Hub Compassionate Café at Hillside HubHillside Community Hub, 4A School Mead, Abbots Langley, WD5 0LB1:00pm-3:00pm, Wednesday 21st February 2024, 17th April 2024This café is run in partnership with Healthy Hub, Three Rivers District Council

By:​

  • offering a safe and welcoming space for people to come together​
  • offering friendship, emotional support and a listening ear​
  • helping people connect with their local community ​
  • providing information, guidance and signposting to available services

A volunteer-led service, tailored to what is needed in the local community.

Enquire now

If you or a family member would like to attend a Compassionate Support Cafe, please drop in or contact the Compassionate Communities team on 01923 330330 or click the link below.

Enquire now

Like all Rennie Grove Peace services, our Compassionate Support Cafes in West Herts and Bucks are offered free of charge (some costs for refreshments). We can only deliver the services thanks to the generosity of the local community and the volunteers involved. ​

If you’d like to make a donation to support our services, you can do that here. ​

Make a donation

Our Compassionate Communities Group volunteers offer their companionship, time, social and emotional support to people towards the end of life due to age or illness and/or people who are suffering with a loss, in a group setting like a  Compassionate Support Hub and/or Compassionate Café.

Enquire about volunteering

"Thank you all for your care, kindness and understanding, I don't know how I would have got through the early days of my husband's passing without you, so thank you for being there for me." - C

"Without doubt, the Compassionate Café made such a positive difference to me. It was wonderful to meet like-minded people who understood what I was going through and gave me the space to talk about how I was feeling, and where I could share my memories and my experiences. I feel I have now gained a renewed sense of purpose and structure in my life, and I am in a much better place than a few months ago – I’m now even looking at volunteering myself” - S

Compassionate Cafe attendees

Want to know more?

If you have any questions or would like to work in partnership with us in setting up a new Compassionate Café in your area, please get in touch with our Compassionate Communities team on 01923 330330 or via our enquiry form.

Contact us

 

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