The Chatty Cafe Scheme, run by Alex Hoskyn, scoops £7,500 prize money and specialist business support from Just Group

The Chatty Cafe Scheme was crowned as the winner of the Innovating for Ageing competition created by Just Group, with support from the independent think tank the International Longevity Centre (ILC), at last night’s awards ceremony hosted by comedian David Baddiel.

From an initial long-list of over 75 submissions, the judging panel felt Chatty Cafe was the most compelling concept. Alex Hoskyn’s mother, Louise Hanson, presented in place of Alex who, at the last minute, was unable to attend due to illness. The judges praised the solution for its simplicity and effectiveness in addressing the scourge of loneliness across all ages and sections of society. 

The Chatty Cafe Scheme supports cafés to designate a ‘Chatter & Natter’ table where customers can sit if they are happy to talk to other customers in the aim of reducing loneliness. It was launched by Alex Hoskyn in March 2017 and more than 1,000 cafés have now signed up to the scheme across the UK, including multinational chain, Costa Coffee and supermarket giant Sainsburys. A further 25 cafes participate in Gibraltar, two in Australia and one in Florida.

The Chatty Cafe Scheme will claim the winner’s £7,500 prize money to develop its offering further and also gains business support from Just Group, the specialist financial services company. Alex Hoskyn, Founder of the Chatty Cafe Scheme, said she was delighted that her initiative had been chosen as the winner and is already looking forward to using the money and advice to widen the reach of the scheme.

“I am thrilled that in a field of such inspiring businesses, The Chatty Cafe Scheme was selected as the winner of Innovating for Ageing. The money and support will make a significant difference in continuing to encourage more and more venues to sign up.

“Many older adults are vulnerable because they are lonely but in actual fact there so are many other age groups and we can all help each other. I want our Chatter and Natter tables to be the norm in cafe culture across the world, providing opportunities for people to get together.”

Minister for Care, Caroline Dinenage, praised the five finalists, saying: “I’d like to congratulate the five finalists for their outstanding ideas on how to support older people to age well through inventive new services and products.

“Their schemes should make a real difference to people’s lives and help ensure we have a society that works for everyone, regardless of age.”

Stephen Lowe, Group Communications Director at Just Group, commented: “The Chatty Cafe Scheme is a worthy winner of the Innovating for Ageing competition and we look forward to seeing it grow and develop over the coming years.

“I was consistently impressed throughout the shortlisting and judging process by Alex’s energy and commitment to developing a service that acts as a force for good in our society.

“I would also like to congratulate, Walk With Path, the runner up, and our other three finalists Toucan, MySense and My Care Matters. Vulnerability in later-life is a growing problem and all the finalists should be proud of their terrific work to address these challenges.”

Media Enquiries
Sam Livingstone, Temple Bar Advisory Limited
saml@templebaradvisory.com // 020 7002 1483 // 07769 655437

Lily Parsey, ILC-UK
lilyparsey@ilcuk.org.uk // 020 7340 0440

Notes to Editors:

About Innovating for Ageing

Innovating for Ageing was launched by Just Group, with the support of the International Longevity
Centre (ILC), in January 2018. The project aims to identify solutions to the growing problem of
vulnerability in later life by bringing together experts, innovators and groups who work to support
vulnerable consumers. Its objective is to identify and support the development of products and
services that will address the challenges faced by ageing consumers at risk of vulnerability due to
physical disability, illness, dementia or financial exclusion.
Innovating for Ageing responds to the increasing scrutiny by the Financial Conduct Authority of
how financial services companies are addressing vulnerability. The FCA has argued the market “is
not serving many consumers in vulnerable circumstances consistently or well” and that “customers
in vulnerable circumstances are being let down”.
The project is looking across all sectors – not just financial services – to improve every aspect of
vulnerable customers’ experiences of the products and services they encounter when dealing with
businesses and organisations.

About Just Group

Just Group (Just Group plc) is a FTSE-listed specialist UK financial services company.
A leader in the individual retirement income, care and defined benefit de-risking markets, Just
Group has been trusted to manage over £15 billion of customers’ retirement savings and has
helped customers release over £3.5 billion from their properties.
Just Group provides a wide range of products, advice and professional services to individual
customers, financial intermediaries, corporate clients and pension scheme trustees.
www.justgroupplc.co.uk

About ILC

The ILC is the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, and what happens
next.
We believe society has to adapt now so we can all enjoy the benefits of longevity.
We want a society that works for everyone, regardless of their age.
We know the numbers. We know the challenges. What happens next will define us for generations.
www.ilcuk.org.uk