Image credit: R&R Studios.

On Saturday the sound of chatter will fill the air

This Saturday, the sound of chatter will fill the city. From park benches to churches, to pop-up tables appearing down tenfoots and cake-a-thons on Preston Road – Chatty Hull aims to bring the city together with conversation. 

A new, citywide initiative led by Absolutely Cultured, Chatty Hull has one simple aim – to get the people of Hull talking.

Listening to residents’ feedback during projects across the city, volunteers from Absolutely Cultured recognised that there was a clear theme emerging- people wanted to get to know their neighbours better. So Chatty Hull was born.

The volunteer team at Absolutely Cultured, has been working with partner organisations including The Hull We Want, Back to Ours, Believe in Hull, Hull City Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, which will culminate in a number of events taking place across the city this Saturday (28 September).

Residents have also been inspired to get involved by downloading posters, invites and Chatty Menus – so that they too can organise their own Chatty Hull events.

Where’s the chat at?

Look out for blue-coated volunteers on benches across the city as they take to seats across the city ready to get chatting!

Two large scale Chatty Hull events will take place in Gipsyville and Spring Bank as part of ongoing work by the Volunteers as pop-up tables appear down tenfoots, streets and parks.

A Bikes and Beans Superheroes event led by volunteers and Groundwork will celebrate the regeneration of Bean Street.

Hull Libraries are having chatty tables supported by volunteers at Avenues, Bransholme, Fred Moore, Greenwood Ave, Ings, and Western Libraries.

St John’s Church, St James Church and Mosaic Church will all be opening their doors and  serving up tea and chat.

The Back to Ours team will be in the ‘Chatty Café’ in the Bransholme Centre while Humber Street Gallery will also have a Chatty table.

On Jameson Street there will be a chat about what they city used to look like, while along Preston Road The Hull We Want has organised a Cake-a-thon and a walking tour of the area.  The chatty couch will also be stopping at community organisations to engage them in the Chatty Hull campaign

Harriet Johnson, Volunteer Programme Manager at Absolutely Cultured, explained: “We’re really excited about Saturday – feedback from people has been fantastic and we’ve been really pleased with the response to the campaign.

“From small events to cake-a-thons, Chatty Hull aims to inspire and encourage people to start a new conversation and everyone and anyone has been invited to get involved.

“It can be as simple as talking to a neighbour you’ve never spoken to before or sharing a brew with them. A small act of kindness can go a long way, making a real difference to someone’s life.

“In an age when we’re spending more time attached to digital devices, having a simple human interaction with someone can do wonders to brighten your mood and if the person you chat to is feeling lonely or isolated, you might just make their day.

“When people come together, wonderful things can happen we want to connect the city with conversations that will continue. Pull chairs up outside your house, sit on a park bench, or go to a cafe and start up a new conversation.  Who knows where that conversation may lead?”

Join in the conversation on Saturday 28 September.

How to get involved:

Small acts of kindness ideas:

  • Pay it forward in a café or coffee shop and purchase a drink for someone
  • Take your neighbour’s bin out
  • Bake a cake for next door
  • Talk to people at the bus stop
  • Check in on an elderly neighbour
  • Get together with families on your street

For more information click here