Have you noticed a rather subtle addition to the landscape in Rushcliffe Country Park? It’s not the bench itself but rather the yellow notice attached to it!
Yes, Ruddington’s very first ‘Happy to Chat Bench’ is now available for anyone who’s willing to sit and talk. It’s an initiative launched by the Senior Citizen Liaison Team to help combat loneliness often felt by older people in later life. Bristol based SCLT is made up of a team of volunteers who provide bespoke safety presentations to community groups and organisations, as well as sitting at board-level on a number of social advocacy forums and organisations which work to support older adults. Sadly, an ageing population means that criminals who specialise in targeting the vulnerable are also on the increase. Bogus callers (distraction burglars) and rogue traders are individuals who use the vulnerabilities of our elder citizens to deceive and steal.
Ashley Jones of SCLT, who came up with the idea of designating public benches, says: “One of the best ways to effectively combat loneliness and isolation – and also prevent the financial exploitation of vulnerable citizens through criminal befriending – is to establish environments where people can meet and share a chat” says Ashley. “The thought came to me after seeing a ‘buddy bench’ for children in a school. We tried out our first ‘Chat Bench’ for older people at Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset in May this year. That was a success and now the idea is spreading across the country!”
Ashley explains: “The SCLT Chat Bench initiative could not be more simple. Download our sign, weatherproof it by plastic lamination, or other means, if this is not available to you. Then place the sign on a local bench in your community and ‘hey presto!’….. you have a functioning Chat Bench.”
By sitting on the bench you indicate that you’re happy to hold a conversation with anyone else sitting there. Ruddington’s first Chat Bench (pictured top) was initiated by Jon Williams after he read about the idea and thought it would be great to have one for older visitors to Rushcliffe Country Park. It’s to be found near the Asher Lane entrance close to ‘Gibbies Wood’ looking out onto the ‘Field of Hope’. The grid reference is 52.886937 – 1.151759. For the less technical among us, its location can be seen on the map below!
To create your own public ‘Chat Bench’ just click >>HERE<< – or on the image of the sign below – to download and print your own official Chat Bench sign. It’s recommended affixing the sign to your chosen bench with cotton-based string.
