We have abandoned the art of chatting to strangers in the digital age. We aimlessly scroll through our phones when we’re on the bus, instead of nattering to the person sitting next to you about little things like the weather.
We underestimate just how meaningful these conversations are for some people. More and more people are suffering from loneliness, so these little chats can help make their day that little bit brighter.
Costa has launched an incredible new scheme with the hope of tackling loneliness. They found that 63 percent of people feel hesitant about starting a conversation with a random person, but 75 percent of us admitted that we prefer face-to-face chats.
Following this discovery, the coffee chain decided to introduce 'Chatter and Natter' tables to numerous stores.
The aim of the tables is to encourage solo customers to sit down and simply have a chat with someone.
Costa hopes the initiative will get the country talking again with over 300 stores joining in on the mission.
We understand that some people may enjoy solo coffee dates, but the scheme is there to help those who are feeling lonely.
The woman behind the wonderful idea is mum Alexandra Hoskyn. She shared the reason behind the meaningful project: "A Chatter & Natter table creates a space for people to talk; whether it’s for five minutes while you drink a brew, or an hour of good conversation.”
She added: “We’re not trying to build friendships – just simple interactions to combat loneliness and to just maybe have a big impact on someone’s day.”
We adore the idea of the 'Chatter and Natter' tables. They’ll certainly help tons of people across the country.
