TWO photographs of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took pride of place at our Ubuntu Coffee Morning earlier this month. The monarch had died the week before and the country was in a period of mourning but, not wanting to disappoint our beneficiaries and guests, we decided to go ahead with the event.
The coffee mornings are named after the African philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’, which places emphasis on ‘being self through others’, as our charity Ness M Care Foundation (NMF) recognises that no-one in society should be left behind. The events encourage those who are socially isolated and lonely to get out into the community to meet and form friendships with those in a similar situation. This has become even more important in our post-Covid-19 world.
On this sunny, autumnal morning, we all came together at the Paston Farm Community Centre in Freston, Peterborough, to share some good food including an impressive cream cake, decorated with fresh fruit. It was lovely to see everyone who could make it to the coffee morning chatting to each other. Many people were meeting for the first time but left having made friends. Some attendees took part in a quiz where they had to identify popular television programmes and worked together to make sure they got the answers right.
The two hours passed by quickly. The cream cake was a big hit with everyone as were the samosas and jam ‘booby’ biscuits. People said goodbye with smiles on their faces and asked when we would get together again.
Thank you to @Localgiving and Postcode Places Trust, a grant-giving charity funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery @postcodelottery for awarding us a Magic Little Grant to support this project.
Our next Ubuntu Coffee Morning is being held at Paston Farm Community Centre on Monday, 21st November from 10am to 12pm. If you would like to come along, email, charity@nessmfoundation.org
