SME News Q4 2023/ 36 Your Online Electric Vehicle Community Founded as a means for people to stay connected during the COVID-19 lockdown, The EV Café quickly became a community platform that invited discussion, passion, and togetherness. Though its primary focus centres around EV and low emission transport conversations, The EV Café name is now synonymous with the destigmatisation of depression and anxiety. Below, we venture through how this wonderful, welcoming platform provides a safe space for all manner of individuals, and how this love for bringing people together has earned it the title of Best Online Community Space 2023. Since its inception, The EV Café has been a place for individuals to come together in order to share and learn from one another. As a community resource designed specifically for the people, it has since gone on to earn itself quite the renown throughout various online groups, each praising its ability to give them a resounding voice in the online space. As people’s virtual presence has increased in recent years, especially following the pandemic, it seems as though the saturation of online voices has left those in need without a platform. In response, The EV Café committed itself to becoming the definitive way for these people to uplift themselves, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings to a community of like-minded individuals. Structured around the core belief that everyone should have the opportunity to share how they’re truly feeling, regardless of whether or not it relates to current topics of discussion, The EV Café has tirelessly worked to coalesce a community that has its focus on those struggling with their mental health. Via its platform, it has created a space where members and their wellbeing are first and foremost - one where topics such as anxiety and depression are consistently destigmatised. The EV Café believes that, if it upholds this focus throughout its lifespan, it may just be able to help individuals cope with, and overcome, the challenges that they’ve been fighting alone. The EV Café is a consistent face of positivity in a world where it feels so easy to come across bad news without even looking for it. Upholding this reliable source of positivity is key to the team, and it’s this mindset that ultimately resulted in its monthly webinar. Through these sessions, special guests come on to chat about all things EV and low emission transport, whilst opening up avenues for people to chat and discuss their mental health within the industry. The EV Café avidly welcomes anybody in need of airing their struggles, and is prepared to go the extra mile to lend an ear to anyone at any time. Of course, as a collective that’s incredibly concerned with the wellbeing of both its community members, as well as the environment, The EV Café manages to perfectly balance the care of people with the care of our planet. Zero emission transport is its primary subject focus, whether this is delivered by its specialist webinars or its podcast: The EV Café Takeaway. Rated number 16 on the Apple Tech podcast charts, The EV Café Takeaway conducts weekly interviews with leaders in the automotive and sustainability world, allowing its community and listeners to experience the sector from an expert perspective. Pollution and the overabundance of negativity online has caused quite a volatile environment for those struggling with their mental health. In such times, finding a space in which the prospect of a better world doesn’t seem too out of reach is practically essential. The EV Café exists to fill this exact need. Not only has it brought the conversation of zero emission transition to the forefront of people’s minds, but it has created a place in which community members can connect with one another. Through uniting individuals who just need to be heard with those who want to listen, The EV Café has truly redefined what it means to be an award-winning online community hub. Contact: John Curtis Company: The EV Café Web Address: https://www.evcafe.org/
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