Bollywood Chai Café Launch

Bollywood Chai Cafe aims to create a ‘safe space’ for people to drop in and chat about their loved ones, talk about grief and losses suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and help to create a support network for people, particularly targeting Bolton residents from Global Majority communities. Studies have shown that expression through art, dance and music can help people with depression, anxiety, and stress. Previous projects funded by CFAM and its partner organisations have focused on this theme, aiming to provide support to people who often have very limited opportunity to socialise and seek support, companionship and encouragement in a safe space of this kind.

The team at Community Film, Art And Media (CFAM) was absolutely delighted that our idea for a ‘Bollywood Chai Cafe’ was approved for funding by the National Lottery Community Fund. 

One of the reasons for creating this project was to provide people with the opportunity to meet up and share Bollywood nostalgia, listen to old songs, play Antakshari, chat about movies and generally share juicy tit-bits of news and chat over ‘chai’ and ‘samosas’. 

As with many of our previous endeavours, Bollywood Chai Cafe will operate both in physical and virtual space, making it accessible for all and thereby breaking barriers, connecting communities, building friendships, and helping to promote positive mental health and well-being by reducing the isolation and loneliness experienced by too many in our communities. 

“We teamed up with Bolton Students’ Union President Nihit Tiwari, who worked tirelessly towards promoting and setting up the project launch of #BollywoodChaiCafe for young people at the University of Bolton on Tuesday October 11th.” Gulnaz Brennan 

There was a great turnout for the event at The Loft, in the Chancellor’s Building, and fantastic enthusiasm and engagement from students. It was a lively and fun occasion, with food, singing and ‘team Antakshari’. There were snacks and refreshments for all – although the one thing we did forget for the launch of Bollywood Chai Café was the chai! A brainstorming session for ideas at the beginning of the session produced many brilliant suggestions which together began to create a roadmap for the activities that young people will wish to participate in – and in some inspiring instances, take the lead in.

Gulnaz Brennan, director and founder of Community Film, Art and Media said, “One of the things the young people have asked for is #MotivationalSpeakers – so watch out friends, I will be contacting some of you soon!” 

Nihit Tiwari said, “It was an absolute pleasure indeed! It was incredible to have you all on the campus along with the students making sure that engagement goes right and in a fun way.

Truly loved the efforts by the students and initiating this new journey of the Bollywood Chai Café.  I can’t wait to see all the inspirational people coming on campus to motivate our students at the University of Bolton.

Thank you so much Gulnaz Brennan and  Peter Thompson for making this wonderful event happen! Looking forward to so many more of them on the 1st Tuesday of every month!”