Would you buy a suspended coffee?

[chelle 35]

I definately would, and a donut as well x

[Marx]

How would someone be considered eligible for a 'Suspended Coffee in Costa or Starbucks? When they last washed? How many holes they have in their shirt? I think the idea is just a 'fuzzy feelgood' gimmick for the socially guilty as others have stated.

 

If you want to make a difference, protest the austerity cuts, bedroom tax or tax-free opt-outs for millionaires. Seek out a charity and volunteer.

[Phanerothyme]

It does not take a genius to work out that the number of people happy to help a homeless person > number of people happy to socialise with a homeless person.

 

 

You don't have to socialise with anyone to buy them a cup of coffee you just have to not ignore them with a cup of coffee.

[andygardener]

You don't have to socialise with anyone to buy them a cup of coffee you just have to not ignore them with a cup of coffee.

 

How would that work in practice? For the shops concerned?

[TJC1]

Thanks Sevenrivers! The plan is to make suspended coffee just the starting point. Yes, a coffee can make a difference to someone's day but not their week and definitely not their year. It could be the start of something great though because all good things have to start somewhere so why not here?

 

My positivity has been learned. I was a pessimistic bugger for more years than I care to count. A few not so great life experiences and I just couldn't care less about myself or anyone else. I then learned to be more optimistic through mindfulness and then learned how to use that to help others through hypnosis. This means that when I get that small number of people going "This is idiotic because...." or "This will never work because...." I feel even more spurred on to to find solutions. I used to be one of those people who gave up before I even started.

I learned to be different and now really enjoy finding solutions where ever possible. It really made me smile when I read a blog post on suspended coffee here http://consumerist.com/2013/04/02/coffee-shop-owner-why-do-you-think-suspended-coffees-are-even-necessary/ and found at the end of the article in which the whole idea is rubbished that this thread is singled out as being solution focused! Great stuff!

 

If It's as good an idea as you make out, just go and do it. The only way to know is to try and sign up coffee shops. If they say It's a bad idea then It's game over. If one or two sign up then it could have a chance.

 

You don't need random forumers approval. When I see a good opportunity or idea i go for it, I dont wait for the green light or canvas opinion, I back myself and my judgement.

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 00:02 ----------

 

My advice would be to back yourself...I think its a bad idea but who cares what I or anyone else thinks! At the end of the day some of the dumbest ideas in history worked cos someone had passion and a vision.

[Phanerothyme]

How would that work in practice? For the shops concerned?

 

The same way it does now. Who you give your coffee to is none of their business (if it's off the premises).

[focusedhypno]

That's exactly what this scheme is helping us get away from, any need to interact with 'charity cases'.

 

But for the price of a coffee, you get a warm fuzzy feeling. You're worth it

 

Thanks for your comment Phanerothyme. I am proposing the exact opposite of your suggestion. By having a deeper understanding of the issues of homelessness and poverty and through having another option that isn't spending 2 hours in a soup kitchen and isn't giving a homeless person a quid that might go on a drug problem I think more people will give more money and support. Through this local approach I think more people will interact more with those in need not less.

Instead of walking past homeless people and pretending they don't exist you could give them a suspended coffee voucher, have a chat, see how things are going for them. By giving them a voucher for a coffee for some food or a drink you are interacting which is surely better than ignoring them.

[Timmmy]

Thanks for your comment Phanerothyme. I am proposing the exact opposite of your suggestion. By having a deeper understanding of the issues of homelessness and poverty and through having another option that isn't spending 2 hours in a soup kitchen and isn't giving a homeless person a quid that might go on a drug problem I think more people will give more money and support. Through this local approach I think more people will interact more with those in need not less.

Instead of walking past homeless people and pretending they don't exist you could give them a suspended coffee voucher, have a chat, see how things are going for them. By giving them a voucher for a coffee for some food or a drink you are interacting which is surely better than ignoring them.

 

I find it easier to give the person cash for a drink and some food and then they can choose where they buy it from! Yes I know before anyone says it, probably the off licence but that's up to them

[chelle 35]

I'm surprised M&S refuse food to CAP they are such a needed charity,and need all the help they can get.

 

Hi Janie,

M&S do support yht homeless, they arew part of a project that contributes to Fareshare, Small hampers are then delivered to Homeless, abused and scared people x

[focusedhypno]

You see?

 

When you start to get patronising, you detract from your own cause.

When you make false claims, you detract from your cause.

 

Is a sustainable, successful development not more important that a massive sugar rush?

 

The current situation in Italy is extremely relevant if you want to succeed.

Try and find out why it has fizzled out.

Were there obstacles there that may not arise in Sheffield?

 

Hi Cgksheff. Not sure who you are referring to on the patronising and false claims front. I have certainly been on the receiving end of some patronisation and false claims on this thread and have done my very best to keep my cool in the face of adversity! If you feel I have been patronising or made false claims I apologise and could you be more specific and I will try address your comments.

 

Regarding the "massive sugar rush" I'm not sure what you mean. There is no sugar at all in tea or coffee as standard. If someone wants a sweet tea/coffee they are welcome to add it to their taste. The food items will, I imagine, be things like flapjack (but square cut not triangular - you can't be too careful these days! )

 

I have been trying to keep abreast of the developments of suspended coffee around the world to help evolve how it works here. I am not aware of any "fizzing out" in Italy. If you have any news on problems with the idea in Italy please add a link as it could really help in what I am trying to do here.

 

In this article http://consumerist.com/2013/04/02/coffee-shop-owner-why-do-you-think-suspended-coffees-are-even-necessary/ the suspended coffee idea is broadly criticised but this thread on SF and the comments made by the majority is singled out as having "put (ting) a lot of thought into ways that this could work".

 

Perhaps IF things have fizzled out in other countries it is because this time and effort has not been put in in the same way that is happening here. I am trying to do something positive with the help of many others who all care enough to want to do something that might help, even if that something is just buying someone a coffee.

 

I completely agree that sustainable and successful development is important. The people and charities working in this direction are doing a great job with very little resources. Surely something else that helps increase awareness of these schemes will help them and surely getting a hot drink on a cold day will help in the short term too.

 

If you have any ideas to help develop the suspended coffee idea I would be very happy to hear them.

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 09:42 ----------

 

It does not take a genius to work out that the number of people happy to help a homeless person > number of people happy to socialise with a homeless person. So as a plan if you're wanting to maximise revenue a non contact business model will work better than a contact one.

 

Thanks Andy... suspended coffee is not just about money, it is about people connecting with other people in the city where they live, doesn't matter if they have a home or a job or not. I would, in an ideal world, want that balance between increased revenue and increased personal contact. I think that by having both the voucher idea and the lay away in the shop idea that both the increased revenue and increased interaction are possible.

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 09:43 ----------

 

I definately would, and a donut as well x

 

You beauty Chelle!

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 09:52 ----------

 

How would someone be considered eligible for a 'Suspended Coffee in Costa or Starbucks? When they last washed? How many holes they have in their shirt? I think the idea is just a 'fuzzy feelgood' gimmick for the socially guilty as others have stated.

 

If you want to make a difference, protest the austerity cuts, bedroom tax or tax-free opt-outs for millionaires. Seek out a charity and volunteer.

 

The information about the suspended coffee idea will be presented (hopefully) at places like the Archer Project and foodbanks. The people at these places are definitely the target audience of Suspended Coffee. If someone has a voucher they get a drink/food item. Simple. If there is a coffee/food laid away in the shop then it can be collected. I think that the number of people who would willingly take a hot drink from a cold homeless person is VERY small. Obviously if someone pulls up outside a coffee shop in a Bentley and walks in wearing a suit, holding a briefcase in one hand and smartphone in the other and asks for a suspended coffee I would expect the barista to question the person's eligibility for the coffee. I think examples like this will be few and far between...if not non-existent!

 

I think erring on the side of generosity is the best approach. The only drinks/food that will be given away are the ones that have already been paid for through donations so the shops will not be out of pocket. If it seems that the system is being exploited by the small minority then perhaps the system could become voucher based entirely. This would be a shame but if it ensures that over exploitation of the scheme is reduced then I suppose it is an option.

 

People are already able to protest (just about!) and can volunteer as much as they want. That will not change. This is about more being done that compliments what is already happening and hopefully increases the awareness of these organisations and hopefully increases the donations of time and money to them. I will certainly continue to encourage this through suspended coffee

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 10:03 ----------

 

If It's as good an idea as you make out, just go and do it. The only way to know is to try and sign up coffee shops. If they say It's a bad idea then It's game over. If one or two sign up then it could have a chance.

 

You don't need random forumers approval. When I see a good opportunity or idea i go for it, I dont wait for the green light or canvas opinion, I back myself and my judgement.

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 00:02 ----------

 

My advice would be to back yourself...I think its a bad idea but who cares what I or anyone else thinks! At the end of the day some of the dumbest ideas in history worked cos someone had passion and a vision.

 

Thanks TJC1, I couldn't agree more.

As a small business owner I have found research can often be invaluable. Better to do something right once! And you know what they also say...proper planning prevents .... poor performance!

 

I'm not looking for approval, I am trying to include people in the idea. This isn't me saying "do as I say" , it's more about me saying "they are doing that and I think we could do something similar, what do you like about their idea and how could we make it even better?" and that is definitely what is happening!

 

Incidentally we DO have 2 coffee shops signed up! They are Piccolos on London Road and Honey Pie Tearoom. I am in negotiations with or have got appointments booked with several other coffee shops in Sheffield! All this has been done while I am hundreds of miles from home on a weak internet connection with patchy phone signal! Imagine how fast things will grow once I'm back in not so sunny Sheffield!!

 

Who knows, you might even find yourself buying a suspended coffee in your favourite Sheffield coffee shop very soon!

 

---------- Post added 03-04-2013 at 10:06 ----------

 

I find it easier to give the person cash for a drink and some food and then they can choose where they buy it from! Yes I know before anyone says it, probably the off licence but that's up to them

 

That is definitely the easiest option but not many people go that route these days. many people fear feeding a drug habit or giving money to a faux-homeless person who makes hundreds of pounds a day and drives a nice car back to a nice house (according to Daily Mail type stories!)

This is a way of easily giving something that could help make a pretty grim day a bit better for someone in need and could lead to increased support for homeless charities and organisations like Archer Project through pushing the Suspended Coffee idea.

Edited April 3, 2013 by focusedhypno