- Go East Anglia’s Chatty Bus Partners with The Chatty Café Scheme
- Konectbus and Hedingham C Chambers proudly support Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s “Do Blue” initiative.
- Social media campaign encourages employees, students, and residents to become Chatty Bus Champions.
In recognition of World Mental Health Day, Go East Anglia turned its social media channels blue, and encouraged its employees to wear their brightest blue outfits to show solidarity with those living with mental health conditions, in support of Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s “Do Blue” campaign. It is estimated that over 15% of the UK workforce has a mental health condition, and while mental health-related absences were the fifth most common reason for time off work in 2022, many still feel it is a taboo subject. Leveraging its regional bus network, Go East Anglia continues to support its local communities in the fight against loneliness and social isolation. By fostering conversations among bus passengers through community initiatives, they aim to improve mental health and well-being with the communities their buses serve. Looking beyond World Mental Health Day, the company is expanding its Chatty Bus initiative through corporate partnerships, a call for community involvement, and colleague engagement events. Go East Anglia has partnered with The Chatty Café Scheme, which encourages passengers to take the bus to a Chatty Café located on one of their routes. There, they can sit at a “Chatter and Natter” table and engage in meaningful conversations with volunteers from their local communities. “The Chatty Café Scheme is delighted to partner with Go East Anglia’s Chatty Bus initiative to raise awareness of our Chatter & Natter tables,” said Abi Murray, Operations Manager of The Chatty Café Scheme CIC. “Our tables create a space in coffee shops or community hubs for people to talk, whether it’s for five minutes over a cup of tea or an hour of good conversation. We’re not aiming to build friendships—just simple interactions that can combat loneliness and potentially have a significant impact on someone’s day.” Through its travelling Chatty Buses and regional events, Go East Anglia is encouraging conversations, while also urging local employers, colleges, and universities to support employees and students in using their corporate volunteering hours to become Chatty Bus Champions. Chatty Bus events are held throughout the year on designated routes. Employees and students can get involved by registering on the Konectbus and Hedingham C Chambers websites. Volunteers will receive free online mental health awareness training from regional partner Suffolk Mind, along with a Chatty Bus Champion kit for each event. Davina Langley, Head of Commercial and Marketing at Go East Anglia, said, “This latest partnership is a fantastic expansion of our Chatty Bus initiative. Since the pandemic, more people feel isolated than ever before, and for some, the bus journey may be the only time they speak to another person. We want to make that experience as meaningful and supportive as possible, and collaborating with other organisations helps us extend that reach.” Internally, Go East Anglia remains committed to supporting its employees through its employee assistance program, offering access to counselling and mental health support services when employees need support.