Sheffield ‘chatty bench’ aims to reduce loneliness among older people
A charity supporting older people experiencing social isolation has unveiled a new “chatty bench” in Sheffield city centre, designed to encourage conversations between strangers and help people feel more connected.
The bright pink bench has been installed in Orchard Square by charity b:friend, which works to reduce loneliness among older people through befriending and community support.
Colette Bunker, CEO of b:friend, tested the bench following its installation and said the response demonstrated how a simple intervention could help bring people together.
“As soon as I sat down, somebody came and spoke to me and I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s working!’” she said.
“Loneliness is a condition that we all feel from time to time, and a lot more than we probably like to admit.”
The bench is intended to provide people with a visible invitation to stop, sit down and start a conversation with someone they may not otherwise have met.
Sheffield resident Estelle Drummond, who is a widow and visited the bench outside Waterstones, highlighted the importance of social interaction for people living alone.
“Talking to somebody, it helps,” she said. “I live on my own and I try to get out as much as possible.
“It’s important to communicate with other people. When you’re on your own it’s horrible.”
While b:friend primarily supports older people, the charity hopes the initiative will encourage conversations between people of all ages.
Ruby, a recent University of Sheffield graduate who previously worked in Orchard Square, described the bench as “very eye-catching” and said it could encourage people to disconnect from their phones and engage with those around them.
“I think the chatty bench is such a good idea,” she said. “Everyone’s really friendly in Sheffield, so I think it’s a great idea.
“I used to sit on the benches around there and everyone just had their headphones on, looking at their phone, so hopefully it’s a good way to get people to open up.”
Alongside initiatives such as the chatty bench, b:friend recruits volunteer befrienders who are matched with isolated older people to provide companionship and regular social contact.
Bunker said volunteers can also benefit from the relationships they develop, with some joining the charity because they are looking for greater social connection themselves.
She believes the chatty bench concept could be replicated in other communities and thanked Orchard Square for supporting the initiative.
“It’s all about giving people that permission to be a bit vulnerable, to be a bit open and to have those conversations,” Bunker added.
“It’s about getting away from their phones and just being in reality for a little bit.”
Edinburgh-based Lego enthusiast Stewart Lamb Cromar achieved a lifelong ambition after one of his designs was chosen to become an official Lego set, more than a decade after he first began submitting ideas to the company.
