The Owen Project CIC - a simple idea with a powerful impact

We were delighted to recognise The Owen Project's coffee morning as a runner-up for the Bright Ideas Award. It's a simple idea, delivered somewhere unexpected, with a powerful impact: rather than meeting in a church hall or community centre, this coffee morning happens in a local pub.

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Meeting people where they are

By hosting the group in the familiar, relaxed setting of a pub rather than a traditional institutional space, The Owen Project dismantles the barriers and "charity stigma" that can often stop people from seeking connection. For many, stepping into a formal or religious building can feel intimidating. A pub, by contrast, feels neutral and normal, and that shift transforms the dynamic from "service provider and recipient" into genuine social interaction between neighbours.

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Beyond the Tuesday session

The impact of the coffee morning reaches far beyond the pub's walls through a WhatsApp group chat that keeps the community connected around the clock. This digital extension means the support on offer is proactive and personal, not just a weekly appointment.

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The power of this was proven when an ambulance was spotted outside a member's home. Within minutes, the group chat was active: "Is he okay? Has anyone heard anything? Is anyone free to go check on him?" The member wasn't facing a crisis alone, the community had already mobilised to help.

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The group also functions as a hub for practical kindness and shared skills, whether that's someone asking for help turning up a pair of curtains, or sharing useful local information. If someone misses a Tuesday session, the check-in is immediate, not as a formal follow-up, but as friends looking out for one another.

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Restoring dignity

For guests, the most profound difference has been the restoration of dignity. Meeting in a pub means guests feel like active members of society, rather than "service users," and the shift from a weekly meet-up to a round-the-clock WhatsApp community has helped eradicate chronic loneliness. If someone is missed, they are noticed. If someone is in crisis, help is mobilised instantly.

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For volunteers, the project has redefined what volunteering means, shifting it from "giving back" to "belonging." Volunteers operate as peers within the pub setting, and their skills, from sewing to emotional support, are valued and used in real time.

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A thriving, growing community

The partnership has also revitalised the local pub as a hub for social good, proving that community care doesn't need to stay within church walls. The group's vigilance, like checking in on a neighbour after spotting an ambulance, has helped create a safer, more connected community where people look out for one another around the clock.

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The group has been running for the past 18 months and continues to grow, welcoming an average of 30–40 people each week to a warm, welcoming environment.

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The Owen Project CIC was a runner-up for the Bright Ideas Award at the inaugural Warm Welcome Awards.

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