After a year of disconnect due to COVID, we are looking for new ways to reconnect with each other. And it seems that the key to reconnecting in 2021 is kindness.

New research has revealed 1 in 3 Australians believe kindness is key to helping us feel connected once again, with nearly half (44%) having witnessed more random acts of kindness than ever before in their local communities over the last twelve months.

It would seem local coffee cafes and shops have been at the centre of these many unifying moments. According to the Campos Coffee Group findings, 3 in 4 Aussies (78%) are happy to shout someone a coffee, just because, and more than a quarter (27%) have even done so for a total stranger.

Campos Cafes are randomly giving away 70,000 free and brew-tiful coffees!

It’s why this Random Acts of Kindness Day (Wednesday 17 February) Campos Cafes around the country are randomly giving away free coffees for Aussies to use as a kind treat for themselves or someone else.

Campos Coffee Founder, Will Young, is a big believer that kindness and a daily cup of positivity can help spark meaningful connections:

“Over the past 19 years, Campos has grown into one of the most loved coffee brands in Australia, serving over 10 million Aussies a year. Our success comes down to the kind support our café partners receive from their local communities and the many meaningful connections they forge there. Randomly giving away 70,000 free coffees this Random Acts of Kindness Day is not only our Campos Café way of saying a big thank you, it’s also our ambition to continue fuelling this kindness and connection. Ultimately our goal is to bring us all back together again after a year that’s felt overwhelmingly disconnected.”

We NEED More Connection

After a tumultuous 2020 and an uncertain start to 2021, it’s no surprise that just under half of Australians (44%) – the equivalent of 9 million – still feel lonelier or starved of connection more than ever, and aren’t feeling hopeful about the year to come (47%).

Yet, in the spirit of seeing the glass half-full, Aussies are recognising the small and simple acts that have helped them through the past year, which they intend to continue practising to help them navigate 2021:

• Displaying or being on the receiving end of more kindness and consideration for others (61%)
• Taking advantage of opportunities to spend quality time with loved ones (59%)
• Being kinder to ourselves (37%)

Coffee at the heart of kindness and connection

Front and centre of these important life lessons are local coffee cafes and shops, with four in ten (38%) Australians visiting more over the last 12 months and half (51%) spending more on local businesses.

It’s no wonder a quarter of Aussies (23%) agree their local coffee café or shop has helped them stay connected, with half (50%) revealing the daily trip helped them through the tough days and 39% saying it provided them with an opportunity to connect with their local community. For some (22%), there were times when their local coffee café or shop was the only place that provided genuine human interaction and connection.

How To Find Your Local Campos Café

Visit www.camposcoffee.com/cafe-finder to find your local Campos Café as they randomly hand out free cups of positivity this Random Acts of Kindness Day.

What random act of kindness have you ever done before? Tell us in the comments below.