The Strangford Chatty Bench is welcomed by residents
A happy bench has been installed in Strangford Upper Green in the village and has been welcomed by local residents.
A multi-disciplinary team of Social Work Practitioners in the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, has recently worked with community groups in Strangford to try and tackle isolation and loneliness by introducing the ‘Happy to Chat Bench’.
The idea for the ‘Happy to Chat Bench’ came from the local Strangford Residents’ Association (SRA) to try and battling loneliness, isolation and mental health issues.
The Social Work Practitioners, who are based in Ardglass and Struell GP practices, co-produced the project with the Newry Mourne and Down District Council.
They met with members of the SRA to discuss ways of working together to assist the local community and to encourage people to meet and chat together.
After much consideration the residents decided that a ‘Happy to Chat/Chatty Bench’ would be an appropriate addition to the local community and the location of the bench would be at the Upper Green area of Strangford.
The bench has been funded by the multi-disciplinary team and the Newry Mourne and Down District Council erected the bench and provided a plaque.
Senior Social Work Practitioner, Nicola Skillen said: “We know that loneliness and social isolation can have a huge impact on people’s physical and mental health and can be experienced by us all, at any age and stage of life.
“The purpose of the Happy to Chat bench is to combat loneliness and isolation in the local community and it is a simple way of signalling to others that you’re happy to have a conversation or even just share a smile!
“It has been recognised that Chatty Benches are now more important than ever before, with so many people experiencing loneliness especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic and this is still a real problem in people’s lives.
“We are so delighted to be involved in this fantastic community project.”
