Conversation Café
Every Tuesday & Thursday at 10am – 11.30am at our Volunteer Hub in Dalkeith.
Are you looking to improve your English language skills while connecting with a diverse and welcoming community? Look no further than The Conversation Café!
What is The Conversation Café?
The Conversation Café is a volunteer-led project dedicated to helping learners enhance their English-speaking abilities in a relaxed and informal setting. Our goal is to create a space where individuals can learn, connect, and grow.
When you join us at the Conversation Café, we’ll welcome you in with refreshments and allow you to introduce yourself. We’ll let you know general housekeeping details and discuss our Conversation Agreements, so everyone feels respected and welcome.
- No assessments. no homework, no pressure!
- Join at any level of fluency.
- Enjoy complimentary teas, coffees, cakes and biscuits.
- Drop in at your convenience – late arrivals and early leavers are welcome.
- Support by our dedicated Volunteer Facilitators.
Our Conversation Agreements:
- Open-mindedness: Listen to and respect all points of view.
- Acceptance: Suspend judgment as best you can.
- Curiosity: Seek to understand, rather than persuade.
- Discovery: Question old assumptions and look for new insights.
- Sincerity: Speak from the heart and with meaning.
- Brevity: Aim for honesty and depth without dwelling.
We even have day trips out to cultural places around Scotland! Here are our learners and volunteers exploring the Palace of Holyroodhouse in December 2025.
Our learners are already planning their next day out for summer 2026! Let’s see where our conversations take us…
Become a Conversation Café Volunteer:
Are you passionate about fostering a sense of community and helping others improve their English skills?
Every guest is supported by the Volunteer Facilitators and listened to.
What we expect from volunteers:
- Strong verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work well in a learning environment.
- Non-judgemental and sensitive approach.
- Positive attitude with a growth mindset.
To find out about current opportunities please contact sarah.bain@mca.scot
Impact and Mission:
The Conversation Café is funded by the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland and aims to address the need for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes for New Scots and non-English speakers in Midlothian. By providing a welcoming a physical space for learners to practice their English, we promote integration and confidence-building.
We aim to also support learners to explore volunteering, further studies and when suitable work experience.