We are delighted to announce that the 5asideCHESS Pack will soon be available to buy at RegencyChess.co.uk.
Everyone that buys a set will become a 5asideCHESS HELLO Person, challenged to go out and Connect with other people in their community. In each set you will receive our brilliant board, a Hello Sign and your Unique Hello Person Card.
Who are the HELLO PEOPLE? Can I be one?
The answer is absolutely yes. All you have to do is buy a set and join the Come and Play Initiative.
Every day we work to ensure our team of HELLO people are stationed in Cafes, community centers, nursing homes, pubs and many other venues around the country.
They sit with the 5asideCHESS set and a book for up to a few hours, offering everyone and anyone the opportunity to sit down and have a chat.
Our HELLO People range from elderly community members looking to get out of the house, to students keen to spend a few hours away from their screens, reconnecting in the art of conversation.
They are women and men, from multiple ethnicities, ranging in age from 19 to 72 years old (right now). We’ve lost count of the number of religions represented. Some like dogs. Others are cat people. Martin used to be an accountant, Stevie used to be an alcoholic. Every single one of them wants to reconnect. To come back in from the cold of social media, their own minds and even their preconceptions of others.
The brilliant Lydia in Bristol.
Universities
Tam at The University of The West of England
Unfortunately, we have seen a number of tragedies at universities this year, with young people deciding to take their own lives. If we can help to create a space where students can talk about the issues on their minds, then we think that can only be a good thing. If you think you can help us do that, then we would love to hear from you. We spend most Fridays at Bath University, listening to music by the scholars and playing Chess.
That’s why we are now setting up 5asideCHESS Partner Venues on campuses to help. 5asideCHESS is all about social inclusion, but that isn’t confined to improving the representation of marginalised groups. We see it also as ‘including everyone in society.’ And society is community. Community is support. And support is 5asideCHESS.
5asideCHESS@5asideCHESSThis is what we want to achieve – bringing people together and have fun. #equality #GameChanger #ChangeBeginsWithMe
Boston Tea Party and Other Amazing Venues
Talking of support, we would like to say a huge thank you to our partner venues that offer them free tea and coffee during their stay.
The Edge Cafe is run by members of rehab who are looking to re-engage with society. A brilliant partner venue doing exceptional work.
A special mention must go to the lovely people at Boston Tea Party, who support us from their 20 (soon to be 22) venues in the South West. It’s been brilliant to find a successful and growing company with such a strong commitment to the wellbeing of its community.
Crossways CommuniTEA Cafe Cambridge
MP Heidi Allen with our man Ryan at the Crossways Communitea Cafe in Cambridge. Say that 5 times fast.
We have also helped open the new community cafe over in Oakington, Cambridge, with the help of South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen. The cafe asks not what “your village can do for you, but what you can do for your village.”
Mrs Allen was extremely supportive and spoke strongly about the need to combat loneliness on the whole. If you haven’t already, you can read our blog about the positive health benefits 5asideCHESS and other measures can have. How much it can save the NHS is particularly interesting!
Hello People, Venues and Sponsors
Eva and Harrison at the SOFA Project in Bristol. That’s Ryan being told to raise the sign just a little higher.
In the meantime, if you would like be a Partner Venue you can CONTACT Ryan directly at [email protected] or on Twitter at @rochild89