Coffee mornings
Coffee Mornings and Community Events in Leicester
Every Tuesday morning, the doors at 2 Overton Road open for anyone who wants a hot drink, a chat and a warm welcome. There is nothing to sign, nothing to pay and nothing to prove. Some people come because they are new to Leicester and know nobody. Some come because the house is too quiet. Some come with a worry they have not said out loud yet. Everyone leaves knowing a few more people than they did when they arrived, and knowing where to turn if they need help.
Alongside the coffee mornings, we run community events through the year: family days, workshops, information sessions and celebrations. This page tells you what is coming up, and how the coffee mornings connect to everything else Raedan does.
At a glance
| Where | Raedan Institute, 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA |
|---|---|
| When | Every Tuesday, 10:00am to 12:00pm |
| Cost | Free, including drinks and refreshments |
| Who | Everyone. All ages, all backgrounds, all faiths and none. Come alone or bring someone. |
| Booking | None. No forms, no referral, no appointment. Just come in. |
| Languages | English, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Arabic are spoken by our staff and volunteers |
| Access | Step-free entrance, accessible toilet, on-street parking nearby, bus routes along Uppingham Road |
| Referrals | GPs, social prescribing link workers, health visitors and social workers are welcome to refer people or simply tell them about us. No paperwork is needed. |
What happens at a coffee morning
A Welcoming, Informal Atmosphere
Coffee Mornings operate weekly at Raedan Institute, 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA. The atmosphere is deliberately informal and non-institutional. Participants arrive to warm greetings, comfortable seating, hot drinks, and refreshments. There are no intake forms, no bureaucratic procedures, no waiting lists, just genuine hospitality and human connection.
This informality is strategic. Research demonstrates that formality and bureaucracy deter help-seeking, particularly among disadvantaged populations who may have negative experiences with statutory services (Batty & Flint, 2012). By creating a relaxed, welcoming environment, Coffee Mornings reduce barriers to engagement, enabling individuals who would never approach formal services to access support naturally and comfortably.
Facilitated Yet Participant-Led
While Raedan staff and trained volunteers facilitate Coffee Mornings, conversations are participant-led. Individuals share what matters to them: challenges they're facing, concerns about children's education, worries about finances, experiences of discrimination, family relationship difficulties, health concerns, or simply the isolation of daily life. Staff listen empathetically, validate experiences, and facilitate peer support as participants recognise shared challenges and offer mutual encouragement.
This participant-led approach reflects principles of asset-based community development, which recognises community members as experts in their own lives with valuable knowledge, skills, and resilience rather than passive recipients of professional interventions (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993). Coffee Mornings build on existing community strengths while providing access to additional formal support where needed.
Needs Assessment and Tailored Support
Through informal conversation, staff identify needs and challenges participants face. This assessment happens organically, not through formal screening tools: individuals voluntarily share concerns as trust develops. Staff then provide information about relevant Raedan services or external agencies, offer to facilitate referrals or appointments, and follow up in subsequent weeks to ensure support was accessed successfully.
This approach aligns with Making Every Contact Count (MECC) principles, using every interaction as an opportunity for health improvement conversations and appropriate signposting (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities). Coffee Morning staff receive training in active listening, motivational interviewing, safeguarding, and signposting, enabling them to identify needs, provide brief interventions, and connect participants to appropriate services effectively.
A note on privacy. What you tell us over a cup of tea stays with us. We only pass information on with your agreement, unless someone is at risk of serious harm, in which case we follow our safeguarding policy. Our Privacy Policy explains how we look after personal information.
Upcoming events
Coffee mornings are the heartbeat of Raedan’s week, but they are not the only time the doors are open. Through the year we run family days, workshops, information sessions and celebrations. We announce each one here, in our newsletter, on social media and at the Tuesday coffee morning as soon as the date is fixed.
How to hear about events
- Newsletter. Sign up and we will email you when a date is confirmed. We send no more than two emails a month and you can unsubscribe at any time.
- Social media. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for reminders and photos.
- At the coffee morning. Every Tuesday we announce what is coming up. Ask any volunteer.
- WhatsApp. Ask at the centre to join our broadcast list.
Run an event with us
Our hall, classrooms and kitchen are in use Monday to Wednesday and Saturdays, and we welcome community groups, practitioners and local organisations who want to run something for the people of Leicester: a workshop, a health session, a talk, a class. As with our Health and Wellbeing programme, we can offer the room free of charge and agree the rest between us. Email info@raedan-institute.co.uk with what you have in mind.
Everything the coffee morning connects to
The coffee morning is where most people meet Raedan for the first time. Over the years, conversations at that table have led people to every other project we run. Here they all are.
Learn
- Alternative Education: small-group teaching for children aged 5 and up who are out of school or home-educated, Monday to Wednesday, 9:30 to 1:30. English, Maths, Science and Tech Studies, from £5 an hour.
- Saturday Tuition: Saturday classes, 11:00 to 2:00, for ages 5 and up in English, Maths, Science and Madrasah, £15 an hour.
- ESOL: English classes for adults, Wednesdays 10 to 12 and Saturdays 11 to 1, from £49 or free for those who cannot pay.
- AQA Exam Centre and GCSE Resits: registered AQA centre 25369 for home-educated students, resit candidates and adult learners, from £200 a subject.
- Courses: teacher training, coaching and mentoring, CV and interview skills, and a free course on teaching literacy and numeracy, delivered with Academica Mentoring.
- AI Grant Academy: helping small charities and community groups find and win funding.
- Pro Bono Consultancy: free guidance for families navigating school appeals, exclusions and home education, and for small organisations that need a hand.
Care
- Health & Well-Being Programmes: sessions on Mondays to Wednesdays and Saturdays run by local practitioners, many of them free.
- Counselling & Therapy: confidential counselling for adults, in person or online, Saturday to Tuesday, 11 to 5. Fees are agreed case by case and nobody is turned away for lack of money.
- Raedan FC and Sports: football and multi-sport sessions for children aged 5 and up, Wednesdays and Saturdays, £5 a month, supported by the FIFA Foundation and Sport England.
- Contact Centre (NACCC accredited): supported contact for separated families, Monday to Wednesday and Saturdays.
Relief
- Food Bank: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 12 to 2. Bring ID and proof of address. More than 160,000 food parcels since 2023.
- Debt Relief: help with budgeting, letters, grant applications and referrals to regulated debt advice, by appointment Monday to Saturday.
- Nutritional Advice Workshops: cooking well on a small budget.
Get involved
- Become a Volunteer: many of our coffee morning volunteers first came as guests.
- Donate: £5 covers the refreshments for a coffee morning table; £50 covers a month.
- Projects: our Building Hope, Building Home campaign for a purpose-built community centre with a dedicated café space.
Raedan in numbers
| Since | 2006 |
|---|---|
| People supported each year | 5,800+ across all our services |
| Food parcels since 2023 | 160,000+ |
| Students taught since 2006 | 10,000+ |
| Children in Raedan FC and Sports each year | 500+ |
| People helped by Debt Relief each year | 500+ |
| Counselling clients since the service began | 250+ |
| Families using the Contact Centre | 50+ |
| Coffee morning guests | A regular group of 10 or more every week |
Why coffee mornings matter
It is easy to underestimate a coffee morning. But the evidence is clear: loneliness harms health as much as smoking, people will accept help in an informal setting that they would never seek from an office, and the NHS now formally refers patients to community groups like ours through social prescribing. Coffee Mornings serve as the entry point to Raedan Institute's extensive range of services addressing interconnected needs. When participants share challenges, staff provide warm introductions to appropriate services, often accompanying individuals to initial appointments to reduce anxiety and ensure successful engagement.
We have written up the research, and how it shapes the way we run things, on a separate page: Why coffee mornings matter: the evidence behind Raedan's approach.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book?
No. Just turn up any Tuesday between 10:00am and 12:00pm.
Is it really free?
Yes. Drinks and refreshments are provided.
Who comes?
Everyone. Men and women, young parents and pensioners, people who have lived in Leicester all their lives and people who arrived last month. You do not need to be from any particular community or background.
Is there a women-only session?
Not yet. The Tuesday coffee morning is mixed, and everyone is welcome. We are planning to introduce a women-only session, though we cannot give a date for it yet. If a women-only space is what you need, talk to us and we will tell you as soon as it starts.
Can I bring my children?
Yes. There is space for them to play, and on school holidays we often lay something on.
I do not speak much English. Can I still come?
Yes. Our volunteers speak Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Arabic between them, and there is always someone to sit with you.
I am a GP or link worker. Can I refer someone?
Yes. Give them this page, or call us on 07725 974831 and we will expect them. There is no referral form.
Can I volunteer at the coffee morning?
Yes, and it is one of the easiest ways to start. See Become a Volunteer.
Can my group hold an event at Raedan?
Very possibly. Email info@raedan-institute.co.uk with what you have in mind and when.
Visit Raedan Institute Coffee Mornings
Location: Raedan Institute, 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA
Schedule: Every Tuesday, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Contact: 07725 974831 | info@raedan-institute.co.uk
Website: www.raedan-institute.co.uk
No appointment necessary. No forms. No judgment. Just welcome.
Join us every week at Raedan Institute. The coffee is warm, the welcome is genuine, and the support is comprehensive. Because everyone deserves community, connection, and the chance to thrive.