‘Happy to Chat’ benches help bring people together again
ALONE, isolated and anxious, these are just a few feelings older people have coped with on a daily basis over the past year.
With many living alone and unable to see their families, Gateshead Older People’s Assembly came up with a heartwarming way to combat loneliness.
As coronavirus restrictions begin to be lifted, the charity has launched Happy to Chat benches around Gateshead to encourage conversations in the community.
And the benches have now brought different generations together, bringing back smiles to people’s faces after a challenging year.
David Killens spends most of his days alone after his wife sadly passed away.
After seeing the benches in Saltwell Park he is now looking forward to the chance of having conversations that will help to brighten up his day.
He said: “It’s a good idea. It would be nice for people who haven’t got any company to take advantage of these, that’s the important thing.”
Gateshead Older People’s Assembly has placed 30 laminated signs on benches around Gateshead so far.
Now the charity is calling for residents and people from across the region to get in touch if they want to be involved.
Locals will be sent a sign and cable ties to transform their local bench into a Happy to Chat bench.
When Cheryl Gascoigne saw the charity’s post about their new initiative she was keen to get involved.
The occupational therapist had a kidney transplant last year and has been shielding since last March.
After seeing a decline in her own mental health she sympathised with people who live alone, so Cheryl got in touch to place a sign on her in-laws’ memorial bench in Saltwell Park.
Her husband Paul’s parents, Alfie and Grace, loved to be involved in conversations so she felt like it would be a fitting tribute to help support those who are feeling lonely.
The 45-year-old mum-of-four said: “I saw a decline in my overall mental health and wellbeing from just being indoors all the time, but I’m fortunate to have family living with me but my heart goes out to older people who have no-one to talk to.
“In my role, I know that loneliness is a looming public health crisis and it’s something we need to be aware of. I just think people having the ability to sit and start a conversation is really positive.
“We live in a very friendly region and I actively encourage people to just have a chat and to utilise the art of conversation.
“It was so sad to lose my fatherin-law to vascular dementia, he was the chattiest of people and my mother-in-law always nattered to people walking by.
“Both of them loved a natter so what warms the cockles in my heart is someone sitting on their bench needing to talk and that sign facilitates a conversation, it is just lovely.”
Gateshead Older People’s Assembly is a charity that offers opportunities for Gateshead residents aged 50+ to socialise, exercise, and learn.
The idea for the Happy to Chat benches came from seeing similar projects across the world in places such as in Australia and Wales.
After a year of normal activities being put on hold due to coronavirus lockdown, the charity has continued to support its older community.
CEO of Gateshead Older People’s Assembly, Craig Bankhead said: “So many people have been shielding or a little bit frightened to come out and when they do come out they haven’t had human contact for a long time.
“It’s about giving people a chance and a reason to have somebody to talk to. There’s been a lot of response and eye witness accounts of people using them.
“The focus of our organisation is on older people however we are happy for anyone to use our benches as isolation and loneliness don’t just affect over-50s.
“It has been great to bring generations together.
“We want people from different generations to be able to meet as people have a lot to learn from the older generation.
“We are planning to print out another 30 signs and use our spare time to start introducing the benches in the west of Gateshead which we haven’t covered yet.”
To contact Gateshead Older People’s Assembly for a sign for your local park or area, visit their Facebook page or call 0191 438 1721.