A TALKING bench in Warwick is aiming to tackle loneliness.
The ‘happy to chat’ bench in St Nicholas Park has been installed by Warwick District Council and mirrors successful schemes in other towns across the UK, with the idea of getting people talking.
The bench is located in the wooden bus shelters behind the crazy golf and has a sign that reads; “The ‘Happy to Chat’ bench, sit here if you don’t mind someone stopping to say hello.”
District neighbourhood services spokesman Councillor David Norris said: “With a focus in the new decade on the importance of taking care of our mental health, I very much hope that people in our community who feel isolated in their daily lives will use the bench to make connections with someone new or simply enjoy passing the time of day.”
Stephanie Bennett, curator at the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum in Warwick, also welcomed the move.
She said: “Staff at the museum think that the ‘happy to chat’ bench is a great idea. We know that there are a many people in our town who are lonely and have very little social interaction in their lives. This is one small step which could make a big difference.”
