Tea in the Pot, ‘Third Place’ or ‘Social Prescription’? Exploring the positive impact on mental health of a voluntary women's group in Glasgow

This chapter explores the role played by the group in the lives of members with a focus on the mental health benefits that attending the group has provided. It shows that who use and run the group very much identify with the view that Tea in the Pot (TITP) provides a third place experience for all who use it rather than a social prescription although elements of one can be seen in the other in some places. Utilising Oldenburg's concept to examine the use of third places more widely, it has been argued that, in the commercial setting, some restaurants and 'service places' can be considered to be third places especially for the elderly. The chapter explores the way in which statutory and third sector organisations utilise the services provided by TITP and determine whether or not the group is providing a 'social prescription' or indeed whether it should go down that route.