Pop-up cafe lights up our lives in Cambridge
The roadshow which brings you a serotonin boost!
Cambridge’s first pop-up light café has been in action with a range of Lumie lights demonstrating the benefits of light therapy.
The demos proved hugely popular in our sunlight-deprived community, with full houses at Stir Café for the first two sessions.
The roadshow was organised by Cambridge Startup Help in conjunction with Allia, Fulbourn Hospital, Lifecraft and MIND. Similar events took place at Lifecraft in Mill Road and at Fulbourn Hospital.
“The events give people the opportunity to try out the lights,” said Cambridge Startup Help director Emma Stevens. “Many were interested in the science behind the Lumie range – there’s a photoreceptor in your brain which processes light and helps trigger serotonin.
“Serotonin is a mood-boosting neurotransmitter,” says sleep expert Dave Gibson. “Recent research has shown that the level of serotonin in the brain decreases in response to a decrease in light, possibly linked to a prehistoric seasonal pattern which naturally slows down in the winter – and even hibernates.”
Those at Stir Café on Friday and Saturday evening were impressed. “I thought the Lumie lights were a great answer to the SAD problem that can affect many people, especially at this time of the year,” said Terry Nicklin of Keynote PR, who was there to assess the range. “I hadn’t seen so many lights in one space before, and this created quite a positive atmosphere, perfect for getting down to some serious work.”
The science behind light therapy being well established, Bar Hill-based Lumie Lights’ PR manager Ruth Jackson is keen to advocate the wellbeing aspects to the firm’s range.
“This is a pilot tour to raise awareness of wellbeing and especially mental wellbeing,” Ruth said. “We’re looking to develop the use of the lights which are in permanent use in the north and west wings of the university’s library, and the feedback from there has been very positive.
“We’re reaching out to diverse communities which is why we’re going to Fulbourn Hospital. The impact is potentially huge and relies on quite enlightened medical practice. We have to be careful, especially with anyone suffering from epilepsy or hyper-mania.
“The lights help regulate the sleep/wake cycle. The bright light early in the morning helps you feel more energised during the day and you are therefore more tired in the evening and so able to sleep better at night.
“But light therapy has gone more mainstream and everyone benefits from a 30-minute blast which is great in the morning and also helps you avoid the classic afternoon slump.”
The range starts with the £59.95 Body Clock Starter 30 and goes up to the just-launched Body Clock Luxe 750, with Bluetooth and a USB port, which is priced at £199.
“The light café is a project I have wanted to bring to fruition for a number of years and I am grateful to all the organisations involved for helping to make it happen, and especially to Lumie for kindly donating the lights,” said Emma.
