The Talking Shop Blackwood re-opened its doors on Monday 6th December 2024. It was a quiet, no fuss re-opening & we had 48 visitors come through the door on that day. An equal mix of old regulars & first time visitors. The task now is to complete the challenge I have set myself to make the Blackwood site the first long-term Talking Shop in Wales & the UK and model how this concept could exist in every local authority with an additional ‘On Tour Talking Shop Without Walls’ touring between the sites through the summer months. If I fail I will have given it my best shot.

In December 2024 and January 2025 we are hosted two weeks of Creative Climate Conversations in the Blackwood Talking Shop. We used creative activities, as always, as an approach to democratic deliberation & we are now feeding the outcome of these conversations directly into Welsh Government as part of their climate week/climate conversations through this report.

I believe The Talking Shop can be used to facilitate everyday democracy through democratic deliberation, conversation & information all year round in this way.

The Talking Shop contains The Democracy Box & therefore begins by giving everyone the basic democratic information that my research has evidenced is one of the main barriers to meaningful democratic engagement, participation & deliberation.

The Talking Shop can facilitate local, devolved and UK Governments, and all our public bodies, to be part of an ongoing year round conversation with the public. The Talking Shop can enable all levels of government and public bodies to work in partnership towards more joined up strategic decision & policy making where the public & our communities are always involved as an equal & core voice. Not to be consulted in a tokenistic & extractive, tick box manner to greenlight someone else’s agenda but to drive & shape the agenda themselves. To be heard every day & not only on election day. To begin & to lead the conversation & not simply be asked to respond.

I passionately believe that new money is not needed to make a Talking Shop sustainable and long term. Rather multiple stakeholders (including the police, health boards, public service boards, regional partnership boards and cross departments of local authorities, Welsh and UK government together with cultural organisations and additional partners and collaborators) need to come together and repurpose their various budgets strands for public consultation, engagement, involvement and participation in a more joined up, creative and effective manner in line with the Well-being of Future Generations Act seven goals and five ways of working. The Talking Shop facilitates information, conversation and democratic deliberation through creativity and aims to increase democratic participation both at and beyond the ballot box. One creative conversation at a time.

I strongly recommend that Welsh Government ministers read The Democracy Box report Beyond the Ballot Box in full and would like to draw your attention particularly to recommendation 5 of the report which states

“That The Talking Shop model (including The Talking Shop on Tour) should be funded and delivered in each location by multiple local and national stakeholders whose remits include democratic and/or cultural engagement, participation, consultation, opportunities and services. A core government grant should be made available to match fund any town wishing to host a Talking Shop. The Talking Shop model should be used to complement and support existing models such as citizens’ assemblies and citizens’ panels.”

The Talking Shop model has been proven as successful with over 13000 recorded visits to the Cardiff, Newport, Merthyr and Blackwood trials in 2022-24 and 100% positive feedback. We need the Welsh Government’s help to finish blueprinting the model which could then be replicated in any town and would provide an ongoing space for democratic conversation, information and deliberation using creative approaches. – Yvonne Murphy Creator of The Talking Shop and The Democracy Box Feb 2025

For more information please see The Democracy Box report – Beyond the Ballot Box.

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When and where was the session held?

We held 2 weeks of Creative Climate Conversations in The Talking Shop in Blackwood in Caerphilly County. The first was programmed during the lead up to Christmas, 9-14 December 2024 and the second was programmed in the New Year 6-11 January 2025.

The Talking Shop Blackwood Creative Climate Conversations Programme 2024-25

We programmed the following creative activities to explore the key questions

December 2024

Monday 9^th -Origami

Tuesday 10^th -Size of Wales Crafting Connections Workshop

Wednesday 11^th– Doves of Blackwood Illustration Workshop

Thursday 12^th – Abstract Art workshop

Friday 13^th – Creative Journaling

Saturday 14^th – Creation Station

January 2025

Monday 6^th – Mindful Zentangle session (image above)

Tuesday 7^th – Climate Collage Club

Wednesday 8^th – Creation Station & the National Library of Wales Archive session

Thursday 9^th – Arts and Crafts with Caerphilly Council Arts Development

Friday 10^th – Lino Printing with Wales Millennium Centre

Saturday 11^th – Creation Station

For full coverage of The Talking Shop Blackwood Creative Climate Conversations 2024-25 please see www.the-talking-shop.co.uk

@TalkingShop2024 on twitter/X

@the_.talking_.shop on Instagram

@thetalkingshop on Facebook

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Image from January 2025 Creative Climate Conversations at The Talking Shop Blackwood and the Climate Collage Club

Approximately how many people attended?

Footfall was low in December and January due to the time of year and poor weather which is why we ran two weeks instead of one. We recorded a total of 384 visits – 184 visits in the first week, and 200 in the second week in January.

How well do you feel the audience understood the issues and concepts being discussed?

There was a strong awareness of the issues and concepts with a mixture of mistrust, deep concern, despair and constructive ideas and suggestions. There seemed to be a real sense of the presence of climate change happening. The first creative conversations week took place in the same week as a red weather warning. The storms led to a lot of closures and public transport cancellations. The weather and floods were discussed in the UK context and the concept of Climate Change becoming people’s immediate reality. General anxiety – both personal and collective – was communicated across the two weeks. Words that came up repeatedly were ‘worry’, ‘fear’ and ‘scared’. Personal experiences from Wales were shared, but conversations also touched on what is happening globally.

How comfortable did the audience feel in sharing their views and opinions?

The Talking Shop model enables all visitors to feel comfortable in sharing their opinions and views about any themes related to democratic and cultural participation. Please see sample feedback from the visitors’ books at the end of this report which evidences this.

All visitors to the shop across these two weeks were invited to share their views via multiple methods. These are detailed below. The Talking Shop does not do consultation. There is no consultation fatigue inside the shop. The Talking Shop prioritises information and conversation and uses creative approaches to democratic deliberation. It is a perfect fit for the climate conversations because we are having conversations six days a week.

Freelance creatives host The Talking Shop and facilitate a programme of creative sessions. These were focussed on Climate Change across the two weeks. All freelance creatives facilitating the creative climate conversations sessions on these two weeks were briefed on the questions and the aim. All visitors were invited to take part in a creative activity and/or to talk to us about the questions over a cup of tea. The questions were displayed outside the shop and on all tables around the shop. One table was dedicated to an ongoing mind map and the back wall was dedicated to the creative output from the sessions and visitors thoughts and responses to the questions.

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Creative Response to the Creative Climate Conversations in The Talking Shop Blackwood 2024-25

Answers to the Key Questions

We recorded answers to all questions through a variety of creative methods. Button polls were used for the three key questions. A total of 129 people responded via this data capture method across the two weeks. This was a self-selecting method with the questions on glass jars which visitors could select a response by placing a button in the jar which reflected their answer. The answers were simplified for this exercise and the results were as follows.

How worried are you personally about climate change?	Not worried	Somehwhere worried	Very worried		TOTAL POLLED
2/12/24-7/1/25	5	0	1		6
13/01/25- 17/01/25	1	9	4		14
How much do you know about the impact of climate change?	Nothing	A bit	A lot
2/12/24- 7/1/25	15	5	9		29
13/01/25- 17/01/25	1	7	13		20
When, if at all, do you think people in your local council area will start feeling the effects of climate change?	Never	Within 20+ years	Already feeling the affects	Within 10 years
2/12/24-7/1/25	0	0	11	1	12
13/01/25- 17/01/25	1	3	10	4	18
					30

				TOTAL	129

Q1. How worried are you personally about climate change?

The majority of visitors were ‘fairly worried’, followed by equal numbers expressing that they were either ‘worried a lot’ or ‘not worried at all’. Therefore the majority of visitors expressed worry at some level.

Visitors also expressed

“Climate change is not my fault and I will die before the world burns”
“Don’t have kids, the world is ending anyway”

Concern for future generations.
“FEL GWLAD RYDYM NI DDIM YN BAROD/We are not ready”
More concerned now especially when the weather has gotten worse: floods-snow.
“I’m scared to know”.
“I worry there will be a nuclear holocaust, the philosopher Nostradamus talks about it. Although social media is a reliable tool in some ways, it can be flooded with information that can be dangerous-filling you with fear. There’s lots of talk about an Armageddon.”
“First signs show the country goes mad! Buy up milk, bread, toilet rolls etc. What are people’s priorities? Petrol shortages when people go mad. Lots of negative press. No real education for a crisis. Climate change always linked with activists and bad press. People don’t think it will happen to them. Won’t follow rules. Scare managed from government and media. Scary alarm on phones necessary?”
“Very worried, people don’t think about until it affects them personally. If it’s not seen, it’s a mysterious entity.”
People are scared about actions to take to slow down climate change- disheartening to see that many people don’t recycle
It’s a very windy day, it’s loud, chaotic. I don’t enjoy chaos unless it’s controlled chaos. It’s a very windy day, the wind seems too frantic, too pushy, too harsh. I can’t push back. I want to. Why can’t I!

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Q2. How much do you know about the impact of climate change?

The majority of visitors polled felt they ‘know a lot’ with visitors feeling that they know ‘nothing’ coming second.

“Climate change is evident. We are living it now. Recent weather is evident of climate change. Trees are falling down. The land is saturated and then flooding again. More bush fires abroad. Power outages affectively more after storms. It won’t make a difference if China and USA don’t do anything-biggest polluters in the world!”
“This weekend prime example” (aka red weather warning)
“The weather forecasts seem to get it wrong more than they used to. Maybe there’s too much carbon and methane already stuck in the zone.”
“I feel sorry for the polar bears, the ice is melting and their hunting areas are smaller. I watched a programme about them, it’s so sad.”
“As a country we are not prepared.”
“It’s next big form of control! It’s not climate change-its geo engineering. Look up cloud seeding. Being doing it for decades in the UK. Flooding is due to stopping farmers, dredging rivers, cloud seeding + blocked drains. Stop building on flood plains!”
Knowledge is gained from capitalistic interests and not planet needs. Corrupt government. Corrupt people. Power corrupts. Exploitation of people, power and funding.
Food and water security for future generations
Man has written the book on climate change and we have the power to create and reverse it.
Feeling effects of climate change (flooding locally, stormy, daffodils already growing)
“Is it global warming or climate change?”

Note from host notebook – “Good conversations around how much you know about the impact of climate change. – talked about issues across the globe such as wildfires in California, 18 local issues such as the loss of birds in local habitats. Many agreed that you can see the effects around us, wetter weather, loss of wildlife being key effects.”
“Covid was a great time for climate, less planes, cars, noise pollution. Nature came back, we could see the night sky better, hear animals more and animals came into cities and towns”.

“If it doesn’t happen to you, you don’t do anything about it. Fires are always happening in Australia and America, until it happens here there is no chance that people will understand.”
Climate change conversations are always boring and feel like a lecture, which is why I think people don’t really listen”
Education does not include harvesting food, foraging what is around us. It’s like the system doesn’t want us to be self-sufficient but depends on the shops.
“We are all connected like mushrooms. Maybe we should be more like fungi and talk to each other”
“Climate has always changed, the world has reset 4 times since the start of the planet. It’s the speed that is different, we can see it in our lifetime and no one is doing anything about it. Everyone thinks for themselves and doesn’t care about the future because they won’t be in it. I am scared for my future kids, grandchildren etc. Can you imagine how hard life will be? People like watching films about the end of the world or apocalypse but they don’t think that it could happen soon.”
“The UK exports most of its rubbish to other countries like Bali, Malaysia. Then the pollution there and contamination is appalling. As long as we don’t see it we don’t believe it. We are a disgrace.”
“Protesters are just people that have no job and have nothing else better to do, they are bored. Protesters are vandals and break everything on their way. They glue their hands on the roads and don’t let the ambulance through. They are all nutters and create riots for nothing” Rob aged 86
“If people speak with no hope in sight, there won’t be space for insight”
“There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” Leanne and Tash

Q3. When, if at all, do you think people in your local council area will start feeling the effects of climate change?

The overwhelming majority of visitors think that we are feeling the effects of climate change now. Visitors also said:-

When council tax us for it!
Climate change here already: floods
Already seeing the effects with the recent storms!
Geo engineering!
Factory smog, sewage and drains outdated, flooding in Pontypridd.
I feel it now in the weather and damp weather.

We gathered responses to all over the above key questions and to the Open Questions below through the following methods

Button Polls
Visitor Books
Talking Shop host notebooks

Creative deliberative democracy sessions
Talking Shop Tree of Thought
The Talking Shop Typewriters
Paper mind maps

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Open Questions discussed during creative sessions

Individual, household and community action

How prepared do you think you, your household and your community are for the impacts of extreme weather events (e.g. flooding, heatwaves, drought, wildfires, disruption to public services such as power cuts, transport, water supplies, telecoms/ICT connectivity and food supplies)?
What particular risks (if any) will extreme weather events pose to your health and
wellbeing?
What actions can take to protect yourself?
What actions can you take to protect your home?
What actions can be taken within your broader community?

Recorded responses

Driving slower isn’t making a difference for the environment. More pre-warned about effects of climate on the environment. More understandable info.
More employment nearer where you live to cut down travel/carbon emissions on the environment
Rip it up and start again. Destruction might be needed to start afresh. Beginning endlessly
Curfew limitation of less traffic, less carbon emission in cities
You can put someone on the moon but we cannot predict the weather.
Stop blaming the cows!
Keep doors closed when air conditioning is on!

Fairness & social justice

How are different groups or communities affected by climate change?
Are some groups or communities affected more than others, and if so how?
What can be done to reduce the impact of climate change on different groups or communities?
Could groups or communities benefit from climate change and if so, how?
What can be done to help groups or communities make the most of any opportunities arising from climate change?

Reponses

Changing our society to adapt to what people need, making sure everyone has equitable access to support and services if they need them
No one does anything to prevent flooding in Welsh towns. Pontypridd is always hit and is always late to prevent it. Where are the sandbags given to people’s houses? Venice can handle the water, why can’t Pontypridd?
A lot of insurances are too high now for houses in areas hit by climate change – won’t be able to buy or sell
Electric buses are a good local start to helping with emissions. But turning street lights off earlier in Tredegar is making me feel unsafe to walk home, there must be better ways to save energy! It makes me feel like I’m being told to stay home.
“Buses are only one an hour, they start at 8 and finish at 5. I can’t get to work and get back home so I can’t find a job. I use taxis a lot but they are expensive and it’s not good for the planet.”
How do we use electric cars without power? Infrastructure useless
Climate change is the next big form of control (2050), net zero will make you poorer, Yet rich are still in private jets/limos? Look into: David Bellamy (climate change), cloud seeding (UK since 50’s/Dubai recently). Al gore- been proved wrong in 70’s we were told mini ice age was coming!
Environment should be better now coal mines have gone in the valleys.
Businesses are the ones causing pain pollution. These are the ones who should be held responsible. Not the everyday man. They have the money and control. We are putting money in their hands, they are profiting. Stop focusing on the little guy!
Soooooo much plastic!!
We could be net zero but rest of world is still polluting.
The council and government need to manage rainfall better especially as warnings came far too late to people to evacuate. Sludge being left to build up in pipes, foreign bodies accumulating and even though it’s visible it’s not being tackled early enough.
Reduce carbon emissions from aerosol cans that causes damages climate change and car exhaust fumes that causes smog: peace of mind.
What are the government doing to stop us polluting?
Lots of negative press about climate change. Activists, anger, scaremongering. No real education.
We need to ensure that sociology, politics, economics are taught in school. These subjects are as important as English (languages other than English if appropriate to one’s background too) and mathematics.
Long term problems cannot be solved by short term governments. Leaders make a mess of it. Leaders are not in power long enough to fix problems.
Power outages affected lots of areas because of storm. Caerleon out from 3 am sat to 9 am Monday
Regarding the town area – improved bus services needed with fewer cancellations.

May be a graphic of text that says 'FREE EXPRESSIONIST ART WORKSHOP ABSTRACT EARTH What actions can take to protect our precious planet earth? As part of our Climate Conversations, join artist Anna for a free art workshop, wor creating playful and explorative paintings, focussing on the natural world. All abilities welcome. Thursday 12th December 10.30-1 1 TLIESS SHEF'

Community action

What risks and opportunities does climate change presents to your own community?
Do you think your community has what it needs to adapt to the changing climate and make the most of any opportunities (knowledge, resources and support)?
What is needed to support action to adapt to climate change within your community
What is needed to support action to make the most of any opportunities presented by
climate change within your community?

Responses

It doesn’t help that people don’t even take care to use different bins. People put their black bags in my brown/green ones, it’s not meant to be for that! I try to make less food waste, I even freeze bread.
Grow and eat fruit and veg from own country. Stop importing from outside UK.
Where will the wildlife go if there’s no trees? The forestry commission breakdown too much woodland. We really need to focus green corridors to help migrating birds. Long term planning is needed, instead of short term attempts to save one wood for example.
Climate change changes needed. More community spaces to shelter when it’s extremely hot in the summer months. Perhaps use of windmills/or/and solar panels to produce energy to run cooling systems. Provision of cool water and ice drinks and comfortable seating for hours of use by the public especially the elderly and children.
get an allotment,
People worry about the impact climate change has on our sewage system with the recent flooding, how we can prevent it

Were there any specific messages that participants wanted to share with the Welsh Government in relation to the discussions held?

Dealing with misinformation is key to make huge change to climate
Long term problems cannot be solved by short term government. Terms are too short to solve climate change
The forestry commission breakdown too much woodland. We really need to focus green corridors to help migrating birds. Long term planning is needed, instead of short term attempts to save one wood for example.
Reduce carbon emissions from aerosol cans that causes damages climate change and car exhaust fumes that causes smog: peace of mind.
Businesses are the ones causing pain pollution. These are the ones who should be held responsible. Not the everyday man. They have the money and control. We are putting money in their hands, they are profiting. Stop focusing on the little guy!
What are the government doing to stop us polluting?
people’s houses? Venice can handle the water, why can’t Pontypridd?
A lot of insurances are too high now for houses in areas hit by climate change – won’t be able to buy or sell
Education does not include harvesting food, foraging what is around us. It’s like the system doesn’t want us to be self-sufficient but depends on the shops.
Buses are only one an hour, they start at 8 and finish at 5. I can’t get to work and get back home so I can’t find a job. I use taxis a lot but they are expensive and it’s not good for the planet.
Recent weather is evident of climate change. Local authorities not prepared, don’t have enough support, sand bags etc. People bought sand bags privately at great expense.
Grow and eat fruit and veg from own country. Stop importing from outside UK.
We need to ensure that sociology, politics, economics are taught in school. These subjects are as important as English (languages other than English if appropriate to one’s background too) and mathematics.
No one does anything to prevent flooding in Welsh towns. Pontypridd is always hit and is always late to prevent it. Where are the sandbags given to
Trees are the ultimate multi taskers in the fight against climate change
Better support for farmers
We can teach kids about being eco-friendly. Zack age 10
We can use solar panels and windmills. Zack age 10
Don’t think as a country we are prepared for climate change
Recent weather is evident of climate change. Local authorities not prepared, don’t have enough support, sand bags etc. People bought sand bags privately at great expense.
Council houses damaged- who’s responsible? How long will it take to repair?
Trees falling down. Saturated land. Flooding again on top of previous flooding. Trees being cut down – new housing estates as well as diseased trees. Why do we chop them down? Big trees produce the most oxygen and absorb co2. Replaced trees are small and cannot produce the same o2 or absorb co2. Will the small trees survive as long as the old trees?
Scare alarm for the weather (red weather warning alarm to mobile phones. Covid message- stay home. Gov broke rules, created bad feelings. Broke trust. Why should we now listen?
Provide free eco-friendly period products. The cafe’ in Bute Park does it, why can’t everyone? Inform people on menstrual cycle and end period poverty.

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Additional notes and visitor feedback

Light pollution, should be more done about lights left on at night, street lights and lights on at home
Wildlife programmes increase awareness such as polar bears
Conversations about climate denial and conspiracy groups and why these ideas seen online i.e. climate denial/flat earth theory etc.
Lots of conversations about importance of nature and memories of being in nature. Visitors sharing experiences and memories of connecting with nature – Chats about mycelium network and nerves roots. Moments in nature. Relationships with night sky. Making wild blueberry jam. Wild produce. The symbolism of stinging nettles and doc leaves and why they always grow together. People sharing memories of rivers and love of parts, flowers and nature writing.

Electric cars useless. Electric charges useless. News of electric car, electric gate of garage – couldn’t get out or charge it or drive it. Why are the governments pushing electric cars? Infrastructure useless.

Climate change will not change/stop
People will not do enough
People are not bothered
The world will have a crisis (like covid) before we do anything
Food + crop are being damaged by weaker changes due to climate change
Damage to land from polluting
Melting water affecting polar bears, coming closer to people as they can’t get food
International conferences – meals, hotels at public costs. They get together to discuss climate change and go home and do nothing
Climate change hoaxers and ray (?) savers. How can people deny climate change?
Man-made climate change – hockey stick graph, shows earth temperature lineage
1800’s electronic revolution
Part of the UK – not allowed to collect rain water or burn wood in your gardens (tenancy rules enforced). Stopping BBQ in gardens. Stopping people using up forest wood on the ground but can burn wood bought at shops. No longer allowed to be self sufficient at home. If electric goods what options do we have?
More bush fires abroad
Illnesses- more tropical diseases talk. Old diseases on the rise. Heat stroke in the summer.
Leaders make a mess of it. Leaders are not in power for long enough to fix problems.
America- light pollution seen from the moon. Why don’t we turn lights off?
TV blue light keeps your brain awake
New Jersey UFO’s nothing on news, why? Who silences press? Why don’t we get to the truth?
Whose pockets are governments putting money in?
Knowledge is gained from capitalistic interests and not the planet needs
Mining company funds deep sea exploration to find oil etc. These companies commercially roam the sea. However without the funding we wouldn’t have the knowledge of the deep sea.
Corrupt government, corrupt people, power corrupts. Exploitation of people, power and funding.
Long term problems cannot be slowed by short term government
Tragic what’s happening to polar bears. Reduction of land/icecaps bringing them closer to humans
Son wants to join the army- which army? Which war do you want to fight? What is the right one?
Personally affected by climate change. Data collection. Current laws but what if laws change? Do we have a say? Medical records, personal data, abuse of this info, how do we stay protected?
Radiation from phones + gadgets
Supermarkets gassing (?) meat into packaging. Making us ill and toxic – food+air.
Digesting food that’s unsafe. Cannot trust sources in supermarkets, restaurants etc. Safest place – buy from butchers.
Consuming chemicals + toxins – gathering cancers, putting pressure on NHS
A lot of people still use pads and tampons for their period not knowing that there are eco-friendly menstrual pads, boxers, moon cup. A lot of miseducation around period and a sense of disgust. Bute park cafe’ (secret garden) provides eco-friendly free period products, why can’t everyone do it?
“I like painting with string- I didn’t know I could do that”
“Using things around me to paint is fun, so I don’t spend money and I don’t contaminate the planet”
Painting “we need to save our trees!”, painted using branches and ripped up collage
Painting “rip it up and start again” reflects on the ability to start again to heal as a community
Painting “climate changes all the seasons in between the elements” made by Damian (ASD). He agrees that if we don’t do something we won’t be able to live happily.
Tearing up paper helped participants in exploring composition, recreating an image from abstract shapes, and also gave them permission in ripping paper (drawing of leaves) that many of them thought was fun. Using objects like string to paint was an example of resourceful ways to create.

Background Information on The Talking Shop

The Talking Shop model has now been trialled successfully in Cardiff, Newport and Merthyr Tydfil in 2022/23 and Blackwood in 2024 and has recorded over 13,000 visits with no dedicated marketing budget.

Visitors ranged from 6 months to 96 years old and include all socio/economic demographics with a high percentage of young people aged 16-30 and visitors represent the full range of democratically engaged from self-declared non-engagement to highly engaged citizens.

Omidaze’s work to date has successfully evidenced that a majority of Welsh citizens do not currently understand how our democracy works and fits together and need a shared baseline of information before they can engage in meaningful democratic deliberation and that people want to be able to participate in our democracy all year round and not only at the ballot box.. The Talking Shop and The Democracy Box combined address this identified need.

The Talking Shop Blackwood Creative Climate Conversations Creative Station

What is The Talking Shop?

The Talking Shop has been created by Yvonne Murphy and is an Omidaze Productions project.

Yvonne Murphy has been developing the concept of The Talking Shop – (a democratic and cultural information centre) – since 2017. A place to find out What’s On and What’s What. The Talking Shop is a public creative space inside a disused shop in a town or city centre created by Yvonne Murphy/Omidaze and hosted and facilitated six days a week by trained professional freelance artists and creatives, Democracy Box young co-creators and co-hosts from collaborating and partner organisations.

Yvonne Murphy/Omidaze is developing the use of creative approaches to deliberative democracy and exploring how creativity, conversation and information can be combined and used to increase both cultural and democratic participation.

The Talking Shop© was piloted in Cardiff in 2019 and led to the creation of The Democracy Box© project funded from 2020-21 by Clwstwr. Young people told us that as well as digital information and getting it into schools they also want this information in person and face to face. So we came right back to where we began with the physical space of The Talking Shop and put The Democracy Box inside on the wall, on the screens and in bilingual booklets that you can take away with you.

In 2022 Omidaze began trials of The Talking Shop across Wales incorporating The Democracy Box to create a blueprint The Talking Shop and create a proof of concept to enable The Talking Shop to exist in any town.

The main aim of The Talking Shop is to tackle our democratic deficit and increase cultural and democratic participation both at and beyond the ballot box. However Omidaze have begun to realise in 2019 that the benefits and impact of The Talking Shop model far outreach these main aims.

The Talking Shop trials to date have evidenced the power of the model increase democratic and cultural participation and tackle polarisation in communities and society and how help us confront some of society’s most pressing issues including isolation and loneliness; mental health and well-being and inter-generational connection; community cohesion and urban regeneration. You can read here about the emerging themes from the trails to date.

The Talking Shop is a shop that sells nothing and where ideas, information, and conversation are free. And so is the tea. It’s an open and safe space for the public and creatives to come together to inform themselves as citizens and collide, converse, connect, collude and create.

Inside The Talking Shop, you will now find the Democracy Box story in takeaway booklets and via digital content on screens, headphones and QR codes. Trained hosts (including young co-creators) introduce the public to The Democracy Box story and content, signpost democratic and cultural information, and facilitate democratic conversation and deliberation using creative approaches.

The Talking Shop provides a platform for civic engagement, democratic debate and creative approaches to democratic deliberation. The Talking Shop replicates the kitchen or dining room table experience for everyone in any town or city.

Visitors have told us a story about what we have lost: our public spaces to gather and connect, debate, converse and deliberate – public spaces that can provide us with civic information and democratic education. Everyone contributes to and helps curate the shop. A programme of creative participatory activities facilitated by collaborating organisations and freelance creatives act as engagement tools and creative approaches to democratic deliberation.

The Talking Shop’s creative sessions and approaches to deliberative democracy include a wide variety of creative sessions and workshops, designed and facilitated by professional freelance creatives. To date Omidaze have programmed arts and crafts, bunting making, collaging (individual and collective), stone painting, journaling, origami, knitting, crocheting, podcasting, creative writing, paper lantern making, graffiti, Christmas crafts and wreath making, clay modeling, pompom making, poetry writing, illustration, visual art, lino printing, nature writing, playwrighting, zine making, music, dance, drama and spoken word. Various creative activities are also available in the shop every day, including arts and crafts, colouring, games, jigsaws and books. All have proved successful in helping to bring people into the shop and engage people in conversation, including visitors who may not otherwise have entered the shop, and in giving structure to the conversations and democratic deliberation.

Creating structured and programmed creative activities to increase democratic and cultural engagement and participation and facilitate deliberative democracy is a key priority for Omidaze and the future potential of The Talking Shop model. The Talking Shop prototyping was complete by the end of 2024. The final stage is to prototype the Blackwood site as the first example of how the concept can become long-term sustainable and to also trial and test the accompanying ‘Talking Shop on Tour’ concept in summer 2025.

Inside The Talking Shop

Everyone is welcome. There is no need to book. Just pop in and stay for as long as you like. Free WiFi. Free tea. Free information and conversation. You can join in a conversation or programmed activity or work, study, read, draw, think, meet people or just find a quiet place to just ‘be’.

Trained hosts begin open conversations around democratic and cultural engagement. Hosts introduce the public to The Democracy Box and Omidaze’s the story of our UK democracy© and signpost visitors to democratic and cultural information.

On The Talking Shop walls are big open questions which are used to centre and focus conversations between complete strangers who enter and meet over a cuppa.

Everyone contributes to and helps curate the shop. The Talking Shop aims to address the current democratic deficit by raising democratic participation (including but not limited to registering to vote) through conversation, information and creative approaches to democratic deliberation.

The Talking Shop’s creative approaches to deliberative democracy have included bunting making, collaging (individual and collective), stone painting, poetry, journaling, origami, knitting, crocheting, music, podcasting, creative writing, paper lantern making, graffiti, Christmas crafts, clay modelling, pompom making, illustration, zine making, dance and spoken word.

Everything inside The Talking Shop is being carefully designed and created in response to years of research and thousands of visitors and their feedback.

The Talking Shop has a zero or minimal carbon footprint. All furniture and shop dressing is begged, borrowed, gifted and recycled.

Sample feedback about the concept of The Talking Shop from The Talking Shop Blackwood Visitor Books

It is a safe and friendly space for everybody. I am Trans, queer, autistic and disabled and always feel seen and properly heard here.
It is nice and warm even in winter. It is my first time and I love it already. It’s so calming, relaxing, and lush. I can come here every day if I could.
Looks really cool in here
I came into the Talking Shop because of interest in their business and expansion layout and wide selection of activities.
This space makes me feel excited! Thank you for making us feel welcome, I love having a space where we all can come, regardless of who we are + where we’re from. I want to bring people here, stay open!
I felt safe here for an ADHD person there is a lot to read and keep busy!
Thank you for being so kind and a lovely cup of tea.
Lovely place and very friendly people.
What an inspiration! Thank you for creating this wonderful space.
The more I come here I feel good and life is worth living the Talking Shop has given me a purpose in life and something get up for. The Talking Shop is my second home, my safe space and where I feel at peace and loved.
Been thinking of coming in for a while; as someone of the younger generation this place is a good platform to engage with others of different backgrounds.
I came in for the first time today, I found it very engaging and welcoming. I think it is a very good place for all kinds of people and a very good atmosphere for everyone. There is a very good range of things to do and people to interact with.
Came in for the first time today and within an hour of having conversations with people about a range of topics. Very welcoming space for all with a good sense of being all inclusive. Very much enjoyed and I will be back as much as possible!
The Talking Shop staff are unique and special and bring own unique style to the shop. Very friendly and selected work here. I trust them!
Gary came in for the first time today and commented, “people normally look at the colour of my hair (grey) and don’t bother to include me- like we don’t count”. He said it was “exciting” to be invited into conversations about democracy that were “stimulating”.
A really innovative and interesting way to address so many issues the statutory services need to address, social isolation, community capacity building, culture and arts, wellbeing and democratic participation and consultation.
Mae’n bleset cael fod yn rhan o’r brosiecy yma! Mae’n cael lle yn y gweithdy lan sta^r wedi bod yn arbennig- dwi’n teimlo fel mod i’n cael fy ‘ngweld’ gan y gymuned creadigol ac mae’n hybu fy hyder fel creadwr annibymol. Dwi wedi bod mor hapus ers dod yma am y to cinta’, Fu’s i’n cri’o o hapusrwydd!
When I think of the Talking shop I think of an adult social club.
This is my second home
To Laura and all the helpers in the Talking Shop. What a wonderful place to meet and make friends. When so many people are lonely to have someone to listen, that’s what makes this place so great, my prayer is that whoever is in control of funds will see the importance to keep open, then so many people will find their needs met over a lovely cup of tea.
Absolutely superb place!! Glad that it’s open again! God bless you all!
Where else can you go to talk? You can’t chat to the person next to you in a cafe’. It’s a different atmosphere.
Not enough public transport links to Cardiff, 1 an hour. Anne catches the same bus as me but I’ve never spoken to her until now. Bryan, 91
Shops like this should exist more. When I come here I don’t feel judged/guilty. I worry a lot outside of here, but here I feel safe and at home.
What does democracy mean to me? Choice
Excellent Talking Shop, a remarkable day out.
Found this place today and enjoyed a cuppa. It’s lovely to have a place to bring my 15 month old where we can walk around safely. Everyone is really friendly. We will come back next time we’re in Blackwood
Came across this place today, really good idea. Creative and friendly atmosphere. Will be back when I’m next in Blackwood
I heard about this place on social media and thought I’d pop in when next in town. Very welcoming, pleased I did so and will be back again. Hope it continues.
Lovely, welcoming place where people can chat and feel comfortable. There are lots of people in our community who will benefit from having a non-judgmental safe warm space. I think people will be confident to raise issues and questions. I’ll be popping in again!
I found this place yesterday and felt really positive when I left. There is a lot of things to do, I will be back again.
Another great visit- the best inclusive space we have in Blackwood. My children love coming here. See you again during the week- thank you to all for making this space possible – Williams family
We popped in for a quick warm up our service users enjoyed the short pit stop. Very welcoming.
What an amazing project. Our services users absolutely loved it/ Staff brilliant and young lady (visitor) who was using the facility was brilliant she showed our ladies around She should be staff, lovely lady.
Pleased to see (and hear) that you’re back open, long overdue. Keep the good fight!

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The Talking Shop information and reports

Information on The Talking Shop

The Talking Shop 2019 pilot report

The Talking Shop Trials 2022-23 Summary of emerging themes

The Talking Shop trailers and explainer videos

Merthyr trailer

Merthyr full length

Talking Shop pilot 2019

The Talking Shop explainer film 2022

Video of The Newport Talking Shop made by Newport Youth Council

Cares Family/Multiplier The Talking Shop 2022 Cardiff Film

Talking Shop generic trailer

Cardiff & Newport Talking Shops 2022 Full length

Cardiff & Newport Talking Shops 2022 short

Report written by Yvonne Murphy Artistic Director and Executive Producer of Omidaze Productions and the creator of The Talking Shop and The Democracy Box. January 2024

Contact Yvonne Murphy omidaze@outlook.com www.omidaze.co.uk

Oh My Days! A colloquial expression of amazement and disbelief originating in schools at the turn of the last century.

Sample promotional material for The Talking Shop Blackwood Creative Climate Conversations 2024-25

The Talking Shop Creative Climate Conversations Part II

The Talking Shop

A democratic and cultural information centre.

Introduction