CARERS COPING CAFE
A Place to Chat, Makes All the Difference!
A Place to Chat, Makes All the Difference!
Being a carer — whether it be for someone with OOKP, or any long-term health condition — can be rewarding, meaningful, and deeply personal. However, it can also be emotionally and physically demanding, isolating, and overwhelming at times.
Our Carers Coping Café has been designed to offer a warm, welcoming space, created to support you — the people who give so much care, love, and strength to someone else. Here, carers can talk openly, share experiences, listen, and feel understood. Support cafes like this provide a space where carers can step out of the day-to-day routine, connect with others in similar roles, and take a moment for themselves. By doing this, you have a place to recharge your batteries, so you can continue without risk of burn-out.
The Carers Coping Café is a peer-led get-together for family members, friends, and carers of OOKP patients — and for anyone in a caring role who seeks connection and support.
Please be aware, It isn’t clinical therapy. It isn’t advice from professionals. It's a space where carers can:
talk about what caring feels like
share experiences and strategies
listen to others who understand
find moments of comfort, laughter, or simply a listening ear
This is your space to be heard — without judgement, pressure to speak, or expectations. It's a place where everyone understands how demanding caring is; and where releasing the pressure of caring is welcomed.
As with all our services, we try making them inclusive to as many members as possible. Our Carers Coping Café welcomes:
family members caring for someone with OOKP
partners, parents, siblings, adult children and friends supporting someone
carers caring for anyone with long-term health changes
anyone who identifies as a carer and wants connection
Whether you’re new to caring, or have been in this role for some time, you’re always welcome here and we hope you find the friendship and results you've been searching for..
To make the service easy and accessible, the café sessions are held online through:
WhatsApp Video Link
Meet App (Google Meet)
This means you can join from home, wherever you are, using your smartphone, tablet, or computer. All you need is an internet connection and a comfortable space to settle in.
In each session, there's no pressure to speak. You can join just to listen, or to share if you feel comfortable. Everyone’s experience is welcomed and respected and we aim to provide the information and answers you seek.
Our carer cafés usually feel relaxed and informal — like chatting with a cup of tea in hand — and are based on mutual support and understanding.
Each session is designed to be friendly and flexible. Within a session, you may find yourself:
sharing what’s on your mind
listening as others talk about their caring experiences
asking questions about emotional coping, burnout, stress, or self-care
talking about balancing caring with other life roles
finding new ways others manage challenges
Whatever your approach to our cafe sessions, you can ask whatever's on your mind and please be assured, you’ll be with people who get it — who understand and have experienced the emotional ups and downs, the joys and the challenges, and the strength it takes to keep going.
Whenever we gather feedback from those attending our sessions; in order to improve our services; carers often tell us that:
talking to others who understand makes them feel less alone
hearing how others cope gives them fresh insight
simple connection with others reduces stress
knowing others listen without judgement makes a real difference
These benefits — connections, shared understanding and emotional validation — are at the heart of peer-led support and help many carers feel more supported in their day-to-day lives.
Joining is easy — simply get in touch with us via email, including the completed questionnaire below in the body of the message, or as an attachment and we’ll send you the link for the next session:
📧 Email: ourookpservice@gmail.com
Subject Line: Carers Cafe
Please include:
Your name
That you want to join a Coping Café session
Whether you prefer WhatsApp Video or Meet App
Any times or days that work best for you
A copy of the completed questionnair below
We aim to reply within 2–3 working days and will send you the link and joining details.
You can rest assured, we respect privacy. Our Coping Café is a confidential space where:
everyone is respectful and supportive
you can share as much or as little as you choose
what is said in the café stays within the group
you can attend as often or as infrequently as you like
Following these simple principles creates a respected and trusted environment where carers feel safe to speak honestly.
If you ever feel you need more personalised support, you can also reach out through any of our support services: either by email, WhatsApp or phone (by appointment only.)
We’re here to help you — emotionally, socially, and practically — in whatever way feels right for you.
As a carer, your wellbeing matters — and connection with others who understand can be a powerful source of strength. The Carers Coping Café is here to help you feel held, heard, and supported on your caring journey.
💙 Thank you for all that you do — and thank you for taking a moment for yourself in our Coping Café.
📩 Please complete this short form and include it in the body of the message, or as an attachment to your email, to register your interest in the Carers Coping Café.
Full Name:
Preferred Email Address:
Phone Number (optional):
Relation to the cared-for person:
(e.g., spouse/partner, parent, sibling, adult child, friend)
(For example: to share experiences, to connect with others, to get support during challenging moments)
Answer: _
(Tick all that apply)
☐ WhatsApp Video
☐ Meet App (Google Meet)
☐ No preference
(e.g., weekday afternoons, early evenings, weekends)
Answer:
(Optional — things like stress, balancing care with daily life, coping emotionally, managing isolation, etc.)
Answer:
(For example: trouble with video calls, need help with logging in, hearing support, etc.)
Answer:
(Optional)
Answer:
We’ll reply within 2–3 working days with session dates and joining links.
💛 We’re here to support you — and we’re glad you’re taking this step for yourself and your wellbeing.