A Helston coffee house is offering a 'Pay it Forward' scheme for anyone experiencing a hard time.

The idea was inspired by 'The Billy Chip' in Bristol which allows tokens to be bought and given to the homeless, someone in need, or a person having a hard time to exchange in cafes and food shops.

The result would be that chips were then spread across different businesses in the town so people can use them anywhere.

Natasha Mossayebi, the owner of The Coffee Hut, based on Coinagehall Street in Helston, was speaking on BBC Radio Cornwall this week.

Natasha noticed there was nothing like the chips in Cornwall, but saw a lot of places offering a Pay it Forward initiative instead.

How does it work? Natasha explained to BBC Radio Cornwall's James Churchfield:

"You can come in, buy a coffee or anything for yourself. Then you would buy a coffee for someone else. We have a really lovely board and people write messages and leave a note. It is for anyone that's really struggling or at the end of the month things can be a bit hard. We would just encourage people to take a ticket and that can be for a smoothie, coffee, or lunch."

The scheme was launched just before lockdown with the cafe having to close shortly after - but was put out again when The Coffee Hut fully reopened.

Natasha added:

"It was a bit slow as I think we are a bit proud as a nation and won't admit we need a hand. I think we encourage it in the cafe. We know our regulars and we can gauge someone's mood or if they're having a bad time. We suggest that they take a ticket and it really brightens people's day. That's what we are all about in The Coffee Hut, spreading that love and kindness."

What's the hope for the initiative? Natasha said she wants to see more places get involved in it, with one of her good friends who owns a cafe in Truro starting their own Pay it Forward scheme.

"It would be amazing if more places did it," she added.

Click here to see more from The Coffee Hut.

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