About us

Meaningful Conversations is a community project for young adults from underprivileged backgrounds. We use conversation cards to have meaningful discussions. Members can attend our weekly social games groups and we provide access to peer counselling, unique opportunities & further support for unemployed, disadvantaged or isolated adults (18-30).

We build community through our weekly social groups at privately-hired cafe’s & restaurants. These easy-going sober gatherings provide an opportunity to make new friends, get feedback and grow.  Members can also develop self-management skills & further knowledge through our unique group ‘conversation games’ which feature at every event.

Our mission is to offer down-to-earth, non-academic social experiences to support anyone on their brave discovery journey. Welcome to Meaningful Conversations!

  • We don’t focus on ‘recovery’.

  • We don’t focus on ‘mental health’.

  • We don’t focus on ‘addicts’ or ‘service users.’

  • We don’t focus on broken futures

  • We don’t focus on ‘length of sobriety’ or being ‘normal’.

Our Values

  • We don’t focus on ‘fitting in’.

  • We don’t focus on blame or powerlessness.

  • We don’t focus on medication or 'addiction’.

  • We don’t focus on ‘breakdowns’ or ‘relapses’.

  • We don’t focus on literature & words.

Connect & grow on your journey together…

“I was so isolated. Even with close friends, family & NHS services, I felt totally alone. The meaningful community I have built has been a life-saver.”

—Natalia, Finsbury Park.

How does it work?

Build community

Make like-minded friends at our weekly social events.

Have fun

Play our conversation games, feel connected & have a laugh!

Grow confidence

Enhance self-worth through your new community.

Develop EQ

Cultivate emotional intelligence through peer counselling & groups.

Find purpose

Discover yourself through our unique opportunities & connections.

What we offer

  • Our weekly groups are held in privately-hired cafes & restaurants enabling you to hang out, make new friends & build community in a relaxed way. This can be done by connecting with other visitors at the events so that you can share your knowledge & journey together.

    We also develop knowledge & self-management skills each week through our Meaningful Conversations games & group activities. These are visual, creative, and easy to get involved in if you want.

    Everyone is welcome to stay after the group for more tea, snacks and to chat and exchange numbers. We really encourage this!

  • Sometimes all we need is to just have an informal chat to someone who’s been through what we’ve been through & who understands us. Our Volunteers all have lived experience of drug, alcohol or mental health and are happy to listen.

    In your Meaningful Chat, if you are ready, we can start to discuss your current situation, behaviours you might want to change, and ways you might go about changing them. We can also look at what you want in your life and how you plan to achieve that.

    Meaningful Chats are free and are available to attendees of our weekly groups, so please come along and join in!

  • We want to offer our guests everything we can on their brave journey. We have a curated network of connections & specialists who may able to help you with the next stages of your journey whether it’s work, education, therapy, volunteering, or something else. We will do our best to connect you with the right opportunity.

    Meaningful Connections are available to those who have attended a few of our Meaningful Groups, and have already had at least one Meaningful Chat.

  • Meaningful Events enable the wider Meaningful Community to stay connected longer term. We all meet up and have fun! We are working on a bunch of new social events, so keep an eye on our social media pages! Coming soon:

    Meaningful Hang-Outs

    Meaningful Hang-Outs will be an opportunity for everyone to get together socially outside for 2-3 hours.

    Everyone from the groups, volunteers and the wider Meaningful Community as a whole can go for walks, food, bowling, picnics, arcade etc

    Meaningful Days

    Day’s out for the Meaningful Community

    ***More info coming soon**

Our Mission

“The opposite of isolation is community. Most traditional ‘recovery & mental health groups’ are overly formal, punishment focussed & often ‘cult-like’ places to visit. Our easy-going social discussion groups aim to change that. They are held in privately-hired cafes & restaurants enabling you to hang out, have fun & make friends in a relaxed way. We also develop knowledge & self-management skills at each social through our unique group ‘conversation games’. Regular visitors can also get 1-2-1 peer counselling, access to unique opportunities & further support. ”

Ben, Founder.

The Meaningful Model

Our simple model has been developed extensively over a 5 year period from lived experience, F2F detailed research & volunteering at many groups, programs, rehabs, charities & services. We have also taken influence & advice from select forward-thinking experts & therapists in the London mental health & substance misuse fields. Our person-centred ‘5 Meaningful Principles’ also incorporate ‘Maslow’s Pyramid’ & ‘The 5 Ways To Wellbeing’ amongst others.

  • “Make like-minded friends at our weekly social events.”

    Being part of a community can have a positive effect on mental health and emotional wellbeing. Community involvement provides a sense of belonging and social connectedness. It can also offer extra meaning and purpose to everyday life.

    Communities can exist or be created from a shared location, hobbies, lived experiences and backgrounds, or a just having fun together. For many people, communicating with others – through online forums, social media, or in person – can help them to have a healthier mindset, improved self-worth, and greater enjoyment of life; but nothing beats in-person games & having fun.

    “I need to be around people, even though it's not easy at times. You get out of your own head that way.” Jamal S.

  • “Play our games, feel connected & have a laugh!”

    Taking part in events, hobbies, or conversations that we enjoy has tremendous mental, as well as physical, health benefits. We can’t be joyful all the time, but when the opportunity for fun and games presents itself, don’t miss out! The threats to health posed by stress and the health benefits of fun are well known to medical professionals.

    Engaging in fun activities with friends and peers is what makes life worth living.

  • “Enhance self-worth through your new community.”

    When people feel confident they tend to make decisions that are good for them and their health. They are more likely to take care of themselves, get out and about, be active, and choose healthier foods. Confidence can also give people a positive outlook on life, increasing mental and emotional wellbeing dramatically.

  • “Cultivate emotional intelligence through 1-2-1 peer counselling & groups.”

    Emotional intelligence plays a major role in regulating your feelings. It allows you to check in with yourself every step of the way and respond to your feelings in a healthy way.

    Learning emotional Intelligence builds the following skills:

    * Self-awareness – You can recognise the triggers for low moods, craving and impaired mental health states so that you can act on them appropriately.

    * Self-regulation – When you can respond in a healthy way to negative and positive emotions, you hold yourself accountable and take responsibility for your actions. You also become better able to process your feelings without letting them control you.

    * Motivation – Having an internal desire to set and reach goals as part of your personal development allows you to remain resilient even when things aren’t going your way.

    * Empathy – Putting yourself in other people’s shoes expands your perspective. Considering other people’s feelings also helps you get in touch with yours.

    * Social skills – Strong emotional intelligence allows you to have healthy relationships with others. Connection is a key to thriving in mental health & recovery.

  • “Discover yourself through our unique opportunities & connections.”

    Finding your purpose in life might sound like a nice-to-have, but it's more important than some may think. Living a meaningful life contributes to better physical health, mental fitness & healthy relationships. It also reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Multiple scientific studies have even found that having a focus & clear sense of purpose can help people live longer & happier lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Meaningful Conversations is a community project run entirely by a collective; locally curated neighbourhood volunteers with lived experience too. We work closely with our sponsors and partners (such as cafes & food companies) to make the weekly events possible.

  • Mental health, drug & alcohol misuse often leads to isolation and distancing from friends and family. Meaningful Conversations offers you a chance to connect to others going through the same thing and build a positive, loving community that understands you. We also offer the opportunity to get peer counselling from our volunteers (in-person & via phone) whose aim is to pass on skills they have learned that were successful for them. We also have a wide range of connections to charities, educational courses & other opportunities for dedicated individuals who really wanted to change their lifestyles for the better.

  • Yes. We welcome anyone who is suffering, isolated or experiencing mental health or addiction issues.

  • Many of us trying to re-build our lives after a difficult time, especially with mental health, alcohol & drugs involved can be a very lonely and isolating journey. GP/NHS waiting lists for therapy are long. Funding for mental health support is low. Group therapy and private care is expensive and often disappointing and impersonal. Meaningful Conversations cannot change all of this, but we can offer weekly groups, new friendships, peer counselling and opportunities.

  • No. Discovery Socials is not faith-based or spiritually focussed (although we welcome anyone from any religion or program). We do not use phrases like ‘addicts’ or ‘disease’. Nor do we have ‘sponsors’ or ‘steps’.

  • Yes. We are setup to help those experiencing any level of suffering.

  • No. Our volunteers are not trained therapists. They are experienced members of your community who have lived experience of drug & alcohol misuse and want to help others do the same (AKA Peer Counselling). For more detailed info on our groups see our groups page, where there is also a group FAQ.

  • No. Meaningful Conversations events are not spiritual or faith-based. Anyone from any religion or program is welcome though!

  • No. We hold weekly in-person community support groups and other events. We also offer peer counselling, further support and other opportunities for regular attendees. See here for more info

  • Yes. We don’t focus on counting days of sobriety, or what some call ‘relapses’. We won’t shame you or make a big deal out of it. We are interested in strength of community, not length of sobriety. We only ask that you show up sober and have not used that day. This is to protect other attendees sobriety and so everyone has the best experience.

  • You are welcome to come and give it a try. We suggest attending a few groups first to see how you go as it can take 2-3 goes to ‘settle’ in. If is not for you, we of course completely respect that, and will be happy to suggest alternatives that may be helpful so feel free to ask :)

  • We would like to think our approach is more informal and less ‘academic’ than in some places. We believe in hands-on ‘social action’ in the community rather than old philosophies and books. Have a look at ‘Our Values’ on our about page for more details. There is also lots more information on our approach in this FAQ and across the website.

  • Yes. Everything we offer is free.

  • Yes. We are open to everyone and were setup to offer free support to those who cannot necessarily afford more mainstream support, are on a waiting list or prefer an alternative.

  • Yes. As long as you have the permission to attend that is fine. Our events are sober events, so please show up sober.

  • Yes. We welcome everyone! Meaningful Conversations is a great ‘add-on’ to anyones discovery journey.

  • Everyone is different. Everyone has different goals and needs. Our mission is for everyone to have the opportunity to make new friends, build community and learn new skills. There is no limit to how many groups you can attend.

  • Aside from our weekly groups we have peer counselling (in-person & via phone) available for regular attendees. We also have a range of other opportunities & resources available. We are constantly adding new opportunities, events and resources so please stay in the loop on our social media!

  • No, however, for regular attendee’s of our groups (who we think are ready/will benefit from it), we offer free peer counselling, which is a type of lived experience-based private community support. See ‘Meaningful Conversations’ here for more info. We also have links to multiple organisations and charities who offer free or low cost therapy for qualifying individuals. Speak to one of our volunteers after a group for more info.

Start meaningful conversations today!