It was good to see so many residents come along to chat with us, council colleagues and local Police whilst connecting with others in their community. The room was full of lively conversation, questions, ideas and plenty of tea and coffee along the way.

Our Engagement Cafés are all about bringing our services closer to our residents. They provide a relaxed and informal space where people can find information, access support and talk to us about the things that matter to them.

The event brought together teams from across NPH offering advice and support on a variety of topics, giving residents the opportunity to find help in one convenient place. NPH resident John was a returning visitor, he said:

I have found this cafe very handy, as I live just round the corner so it’s a good idea to have these dotted around town. I’ve been to a few of these events and they have always been useful. Face to face is always better, less hassle. You can come here and talk to a person and know that things are going to get sorted out. You get a warm welcome and a nice cup of coffee and speak to some lovely people.

We were thrilled by the turnout and the positive atmosphere throughout the afternoon. From the moment the doors opened, there was buzz in the room, with residents taking the opportunity to ask questions, seek advice and have meaningful conversations. Vilma found the support she needed, she said:

I’ve found this to be very useful. I’ve travelled from Spencer to be here. I’ve spoken to different teams about flytipping, a broken door and the rendering on my house. I’ve also brought my Auntie along today because she wanted to speak to WNC about something.

Holding the event in Duston for the first time proved to be a real success, and we were delighted to see residents making the most of everything on offer. Events like these help us stay connected to our communities and ensure residents can access support in a friendly and welcoming environment. It was Debbie’s first attendance at an Engagement Café:

I’ve spoken to four different teams about street signage, fly-tipping, overgrown bushes and a repair. They’ve all set the ball in motion to address the issues. It has been great to speak face to face about the issues rather than on the phone. The welcome to the event was warm and welcoming and staff members helped me to speak to the right teams. I would recommend this to other tenants.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, took part and helped make the afternoon such a success. We’d also like to thank Duston Community Centre for hosting us and helping to create such a warm and welcoming space for residents.

We’re already looking forward to our next Engagement Café and continuing to create opportunities for residents to connect with us, access support and have their voices heard.

Visit our events page to find out what’s happening near you – plus all our events are listed on Facebook too.