Friendship Alliance
The Friendship Alliance is an initiative brought together by The Link Visiting Scheme, Age UK Berkshire, Involve Community Services and the Wokingham Volunteer Centre to tackle loneliness and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of residents in Wokingham Borough.
We currently have 55 Friendship Tables in cafes and organisations across the borough, manned by volunteers. This means there is somewhere to go every day of the week where you’ll receive a warm welcome and meet a friendly face.
“It’s changed my life”
“Isolation was my life until I was told about The Friendship Table near me. Now it’s a must on the calendar and just brings joy, smiles and chat from the group of people who attend who obviously feel as I do. It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s changed my life”.
Friendship Tables
A Friendship table is a place to come together regularly for a chat and make some friends. Have a look at the map below to find one near you (click the coffee symbol for more information). Download the full Friendship Table Calendar
Host a Friendship Table We are looking for community spaces, local cafes and pubs in Wokingham borough to host a Friendship Table on a regular basis to encourage people to sit and have a friendly chat. It is flexible to suit you! Let us know the day and time you would like to host a Friendship Table with your volunteers or staff. We will promote the table and your venue on our social media channels, newsletter and website along with referring local people who could benefit.
What’s on
Pinewood Bar and Cafe
Unit 8 Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, RG40 3AQ
Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 16:00
Finchampstead Baptist Church Cafe
FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 4ES
finchampstead.com/cafeTuesdays 10:00 - 12:00
Open Door
Brookside Church, Brookside Close, Earley, RG6 7HG
Wednesdays 14:00 - 16:00
Coffee & Chat
St Paul's Parish Rooms, Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 1EH
Fridays 14:00 to 16:00
Arborfield Royal British Legion
Everlsey Road, Arborfield, RG2 9PR
Mondays 10:00 - 11:30
Café Refresh
Wokingham Salvation Army, Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HD
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00 - 13:30
A Place to Meet
Wokingham Salvation Army, Sturges Road, Wokingham, RG40 2HD
Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00
Four Seasons
Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4UX
Mondays 13:30 - 15:30
Cameo Lunch Club
Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4UX
Tuesdays 10:00 - 13:00 (closed from August to mid-September)
Coffee Morning
Woodley Baptist Church, Hurricane Way, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4UX
Wednesdays 10:00 - 12:00
Cafe Mosaic
The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
Wednesdays 11:00 - 12:00
Re:Fresh Cafe
Trinity Church, 9 Chalfont Close, Earley, RG6 5HZ
Thursdays 14:00 - 16:00
Acorn Cafe
Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, RG41 3DR
Fridays 10:30 - 12:00
Re:Fresh Cafe
St Nicolas Church, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN
Fridays 10:00 - 12:00
Sip & Share
Woosehill Church, 32 Chestnut Avenue, Wokingham, RG41 3RS
2nd Saturday of the month 11:00 - 12:00
CLASP
The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
10:00 - 12:00 every 3rd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
We welcome carers, support workers as well as their clients. We would love to meet more people who have learning disabilities, autism etc, no matter how profound or mild.
Social Seniors Tea & Coffee
Spencers Wood Pavilion, Clares Green Road, Spencers Wood, RG7 1DY
Thursdays 10:00 - 12:00
T & C at Share, Wokingham
Norreys Church, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 1UU
Mondays and Fridays 12:30 - 14:30
Lunch Club
The Bradbury Centre, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
Thursdays 12:00 - 13:30
Share Shinfield
Shinfield Baptist Church, 1 Fairmead Road, Shinfield, RG2 9DL
Mondays 12:30 - 14:00
Coffee Morning
Shinfield Baptist Church, 1 Fairmead Road, Shinfield, RG2 9DL
Thursdays 10:00 - 11:45
Cameo
St Bartholomew’s Church Hall, Church Lane, Arborfield, RG2 9JD
2nd Monday of the month 13:30 - 15:00 (closed August)
Craft at the Cowshed
The Cowshed, Hurst Grove, Sandford Lane, Hurst, RG10 0SQ
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00 - 16:00
S.N.A.C. (St Nicolas Afternoon Club)
St Nicolas Church and Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN
Fridays 14:15 - 16:00
Board Games Cafe
St Nicolas Church and Centre, Sutcliffe Avenue, Earley, RG6 7JN
Tuesdays 10:00 - 12:00
Tea and Chat
St Mary and St John Parish Centre, Vicarage Close, Finchampstead, RG40 4JW
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month14:00 - 15:30
Community Club
Arborfield Village Hall, Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross, RG2 9PQ
Fridays 12:00 - 14:00
Gateway Cafe
St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Shinfield, RG2 9BY
Monday to Friday 10:00 - 12:00 (Open April to October)
Coffee Corner
Davies Room, Swallowfield Parish Hall, Swallowfield St, Swallowfield, RG10 0SQ
Wednesdays 10:30 - 12:30
Friendship Cafe
Alexandra Grange Care Home, Oaklands Drive, Molly Millars Ln, Wokingham, RG41 2RU
Last Thursday of the month 15:00 - 16:00
St Michael’s Cafe
St Michael & All Angels Church, Basingstoke Rd, Spencers Wood, RG7 1AP
Wednesdays 10:00 - 14:00
Pop-in Club
Hannen Room, St Mary's Church, Station Road, Wargrave, RG10 8EU
Mondays from 10:30 - 12:30
The Welcome Cafe
Hannen Room, St Mary's Church, Station Road, Wargrave, RG10 8EU
Tuesdays from 14:30 - 16:00
The Sunflower Club
Rainbow Community Centre, Rainbow Park, Winnersh, RG41 5SG
Fortnightly on Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:30
Gateway Cafe
St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Shinfield, RG2 9BY
Mondays to Fridays from 10:00 - 12:00
Friday Lunch Club
The Cornerstone, Norreys Ave, Wokingham, RG40 1UE
1st Friday of the month from 12:30 - 14:00
Shinfield Community House Coffee Morning
Shinfield Community House, 36 Frensham Green, Shinfield, RG2 8EH
Mondays from 10:00 - 11:30
Shinfield View Coffee Morning
Shinfield View Care Home, School Green, Shinfield, RG2 9EH
Tuesdays from 10:45 - 12:15
The Well
Kings Place, 9 Station Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AD
Wednesdays from 11:00 - 15:00
The 3Cs Cafe
Emmanuel Church, Southlake Crescent, Woodley, RG5 3QW
Fridays from 13:30 - 16:00
Winnersh & Binfield Rotary
Characters Cafe, 2 Denmark St, Wokingham, RG40 2BB
Last Friday of the month from 09:30 - 10:30
Cosy Coffee Morning
Woodley Library, 6 Headley Road, Woodley RG5 4JA
1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Cosy Coffee Morning
Lower Earley Library, Chalfont Close, Earley RG6 5HZ
4th Monday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Cosy Coffee Morning
Wokingham Library, Carnival Hub, Wellington Road, Wokingham RG40 2AF
4th Thursday of the month from 10:00 - 11:30
Let’s Connect
Community Hub, Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF
Fortnightly on Thursdays from 13:00 - 14:00
Download the full Friendship Table Calendar
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Get in touch
Keen to get involved or have a question about The Friendship Alliance? We’d love to hear from you. Contact Jayne by phone: 07464834949 or email: Jayne@linkvisiting.org.
Our Friendship Champions
We’re establishing a network of Friendship Champions who promote the Friendship Alliance’s services, actively encourage friendships and develop community spirit. If you organise a group or activity, run your street’s WhatsApp group chat, work in your local café, library, or even if you’re just a friendly person who wants to spend more time in their community, we’d love to hear from you.
If you’d like to sign up and take our pledge, you will be awarded a certificate that states you are officially a Friendship Champion and you can get started! Read more or contact jayne@linkvisiting.org.