Former Dorchester M&S reopens as Public Living Room today
It's being set up as a place to chat to strangers.
A new Public Living Room is opening in Dorchester on the former Marks and Spencer site.
It's been put there by Dorset Carers Hub and is the first in the country, which will run alongside other projects running in the former store.
It is one of many spaces open to everyone set up by local people who are part of the 'Camerados' movement, who believe when times are tough, sometimes it’s easier to chat to a stranger than someone we know.
The Dorchester Public Living Room launch will be takes place today as part of celebrations to end National Carers Week. After that it will be open Tues-Thurs between 10am and 4pm.
Mark Watson from Dorset Carers Hub said:
“Anyone can join us, what we love is the idea that we’re offering a place where people can be themselves, meet new people different to them, have some fun together, have a chat and a cuppa, no agenda and no trying to fix one another's problems.
Dorset Carers Hub is a community group made up of unpaid carers for unpaid carers, and whilst our mission is to make sure no carer feels alone, this Public Living Room is open to everyone in our community.”
Camerados is a growing movement of people from Baltimore to Blackpool who look out for each other in person and online. Anyone can be a camerado. Being a camerado is about how you live on a daily basis based on six ideas that help people be alongside each other and get through tough times.
The first Public Living Room was set up in Sheffield in 2016. Each public living room is different, set up by a camerado who makes it their own. You’ll find public living rooms in shops, schools, hospitals, front rooms, online. More and more are appearing all the time.