Happiness is One Long Noodle Strand

Stop and Smell the Coffee...

Cardiff is paying it forward and spreading joy, one latte at a time.

No matter what you are going through, be it exam stress, money woes or family trouble - a hot drink on a cold winter’s afternoon offers a spark of joy amongst the dreary fog. It is the small things that make someone’s day, a ray of hope when the road ahead seems long and the destination out of sight.

Cardiff’s pay-it-forward champions offer just that – from a cup of joe to a plate of warm food, local businesses are showing us just how important kindness can be, and how many people depend on it.

More than 1 in 5 people live in poverty in Wales. Here are some organisations you can get involved with or donate to, in Cardiff.

Food Cardiff

Your Local Pantry Cardiff

Cardiff Foodbank

Al-Ikhlas Foodbank

Brodie’s Coffee/Bricks ‘n’ Mortar - Hot Drinks for the Homeless. Gorsedd Gardens. North Road

I spoke to owner Ian Brodie about what made them decide to take up a pay-it-forward scheme, how it helps people in our community and why other businesses should take part. From the beginning in their iconic little cabin in Gorsedd Gardens, Brodie’s would make sure their less fortunate customers didn’t go without a hot drink on bitterly cold days – but the demand was high for a small independent business to keep up with. So, one post-it note on the board at a time, drinks pledged by other customers was a great way to solve this problem.

It was met with an amazing response and meant they could ‘offer more on a daily basis and really build relationships with the homeless of Cardiff’, and as a team, they’ve ‘gotten to know so many people who have turned their lives around’. Proving the significance of a little cup of the kindness of strangers.

They noted that the scheme can be a ‘poisoned chalice’ as some people may take advantage of others’ generosity – but ‘for every one person behaving poorly, there are nine that just really need something to lift them on a cold day’. So this shouldn’t deter other businesses from doing the same thing, as it is so worth it to look after those nine.

There you have it, whether you pledge a drink for each one that you buy or donate your free coffee from your loyalty card – each one will bring joy to someone who needs it most.

The Table - ‘If you can’t afford to eat, come and eat. Somebody else has paid for you.’ Pentyrch Street.

This little café is tucked away in a church in a small corner of Cathays. Selling pancakes, soup and toasties on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and singing hymns on Sunday when they operate as a church. The chalkboard on their wall amongst the comfy sofas and fairy lights reads – ‘If you can’t afford to eat, come and eat. Somebody else has paid for you’ - with the Bible verse, ‘come if you are thirsty, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come buy and eat’.

As well as providing sustenance for the less fortunate, The Table’s staff also work on a voluntary basis, showing the heart and love they have for the community. The church has a warm, homely feel – it is even equipped with toasty fireplaces, and this is reflected in the lovely staff members who make everyone feel at home.

If they can go out of their way to serve the community, we can give back by pledging some cash for visitors who might not be able to afford a meal that day.

Wild Thing – Pay what you can. Cathays Terrace

Wild Thing operates with ethics and accessibility in mind. As well as having a fully vegan menu, the business operates on a pay what you can model. They do not run as a charity or receive grants; they just rely on those who are able to afford good food to fund the people that can’t.

They are passionate about this model and their main aim is to ‘make good food accessible to all’. If you prioritised rent over a meal out this week or fixing your car over a decent food shop, you still deserve indulgent and healthy food. That is where Wild Thing comes in.

They also support Cardiff’s first Community Fridge which is located in Cathays community centre. It provides free access to surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, distributing it to those in need. They have a contribution system where businesses can register their details with Wild Thing and contact them when there is food that is going to waste – for volunteers to pick up!

Show them your support the next time you go out for brekkie or brunch, get nourished and pay what you can afford.

Words by: Beth Mendleton Design by: Isabel Brewster