A group of Climate Cafés are set to launch across Cornwall in environmental efforts.
The expansion of the café's network aims to provide a supportive platform for people dealing with concerns about climate and ecological crises.
The Helston Climate Action Group (HCAG) has been running sessions at Climate Cafés since November 2021.
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Due to high demand prompting customers to travel from far and wide to attend café sessions, HCAG joined with other Cornwall-based organisations to apply for funding to train volunteers to set up further cafés across the region.
Over-18s are invited to participate in the sessions and air their emotions regarding the daunting realities of climate change.
Specialist facilitators oversee these meetings to ensure a constructive and supportive dialogue.
Applicants can enrol online through Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA) for facilitator training.
The content of CPA's programme will also be available for in-person training as part of the new joint project.
Nick Jarvis, 42, one of the facilitator trainees, said he was taking part due to his "grief, sadness and anger" about the climate crisis.
He said: “I don’t know exactly what is ahead of us with climate change, but I do know that listening to, caring for, and supporting each other will be vital through all of the challenges ahead.
“Before I found the cafes I had been carrying these feelings alone, and it was easy to feel like nobody else cared in the same way that I do."
The Cornwall Climate Café Community of Practice project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Transition Together.
The project expects to host six to twelve attendees per café.
Additionally, there are plans to set up an online wellness space for volunteers, and those seeking support, on the Cornwall Climate Action Network website.
Peter Lefort of the Green Futures Network at the University of Exeter, said: "This project is not only aiming to keep up with the demand for safe spaces to explore these impacts but also to model a joined up Cornwall-wide approach."
Workshops for volunteer facilitators have been scheduled throughout the year in Central, North, and East Cornwall, with another planned for early June in Truro.
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