Posted on: Wednesday 17 June 2026
This Loneliness Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the volunteers and community organisations helping people feel connected, supported and less alone, strengthening wellbeing and community resilience across Torfaen, in line with the Torfaen Deal.
A new community café in Cwmbran is helping to combat social isolation and improve wellbeing by bringing people together in a welcoming, supportive environment.
The Mindful Munch Café, based at Pontrhydyrun Community Hall, opened in March and was set up by mums Samantha Othen and Sarah Jones, after identifying a growing need for accessible, community-based mental health support.
The pair first met on a Torfaen Springboard business course in 2025 and realised a shared ambition to create a space where people could connect, share experiences and find support in a non-clinical setting.
Open Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm, the café welcomes around 250 visitors each week, offering affordable meals, informal peer support and themed days such as ‘Mindful Mingling’, as well as a mum and baby group.
Samantha, who has a background in business and whose own experiences of menopause-related anxiety and poor mental health inspired her passion for supporting others, said:
“We wanted to create a safe space for those who struggle with their mental health, where they feel comfortable coming together, whether that’s for a chat, support or simply to feel less alone.”
Sarah added: “It’s been incredible to see the community respond so positively, and we have lots more to come.”
Building on its success, the café has expanded its offer to include Companions in Loss, a monthly bereavement support group.
Held on the second Tuesday of each month, the group provides a safe and supportive space for anyone coping with the loss of a loved one, whether recent or long ago.
The project has been supported by Torfaen Council’s Capacity Building Team, who helped secure more than £8,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) to pay for new energy efficient lighting, an insulated suspended ceiling and the installation of fire door and general building works.
Additional investment of over £4,000 from the council’s Food 4 Growth fund helped pay for a new kitchen and appliances, and the café are also featured in the newly launched Good Food network directory.
The hall itself is home Pontnewydd United Football Clubm which gave permission for café to operate on site, and they have since helped with the development, transforming it from an underused facility into a vibrant, multi-purpose hub for the community.
David Leech, Deputy Chief Executive at Torfaen Council, said:
“This is a fantastic example of local people at the forefront of shaping services that truly meet the needs of their community.
“By creating a welcoming space where residents can come together, access support and build connections, the café is helping to tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing across the area.
“It reflects the ambition of the Torfaen Deal, with residents, organisations and community groups working together to build more resilient communities."