Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Lyndon and Barbara Shearman, of Victoria Street, launched the coffee meetings at the Salvation Army base near their home on January 8, 2019, and helped make it popular “through word of mouth”.

The couple, who wanted to “start conversations” and help boost the confidence of socially-isolated residents, run the weekly meeting each Wednesday morning at the Victoria Street base.

One year on, the group has gone from strength to strength and can see up to 20 people attending each week, while some of their visitors have even started to form their own friendships.

Launch of Mansfield Salvation Army coffee mornings, pictured from left are organisers Lyndon and Barbara Shearman and volunteer Carolyn Evans

The group also gives residents a chance to talk to their local councillor about problems in the area, and learn more about events going on around them.

Lyndon, 74, said: “We now get up to 20 people attending, from a wide range of backgrounds, and Councillor Brian Lohan calls in often, which is nice as it gives him informal contact with residents in his ward.

“This is why the group was formed, to give people a chance for social contact, and we have people from all around Mansfield and some from Sutton coming along.

“There is no set agenda, we have teas, coffees, biscuits, and the conversations can be about anything. We have lots of fun!”

Lyndon and Barbara Shearman at the launching of their coffee morning last year.

The Shearmans also host a weekly session on Fridays in Four Seasons’ The Hive, with a similar focus of social mobility.

Barbara, 68, says some of the people who attend their groups now go out for lunch, teas and coffees outside the meetings – something the couple set out to achieve when it launched.

“It’s nice to see them meeting up and going out together, we wanted to create conversations and social contact, and that’s what we have achieved”, she said.

“People have made friendships, they have connected outside the groups and we’ve got them out.

Barbara and Lyndon Shearman, front row second and third from the right, are pictured with members of their weekly group on its anniversary.

“We have to mention that, without the support of the Salvation Army for the use of their hall, it wouldn't have happened at all.”

Their Salvation Army sessions from from 10am until noon each Wednesday, and are free-to-attend.

Mansfield couple hail success of weekly meetings aimed at boosting social mobility