Twelve new ‘Chatty Benches’ – designed to help reduce loneliness and isolation by giving people the chance to sit down and talk – are to be installed at parks across the borough.
It follows on from the installation of an initial seven benches five years ago.
ABC Council’s environment committee was informed the locations had already been agreed and funding was in place.
Speaking at the April meeting, Claire Duddy, head of climate, parks and sustainability, explained: “This is a cross-departmental programme and the first phase of the benches were delivered in 2021, in partnership with the Connect Well, Live Well Network.
“This was formerly known as the ABC Loneliness Network and this saw the installation of seven benches across the borough at that time.
“As part of the Peace Plus programme, we intend to install a further 12 pinches.
“ This programme is being fully funded through Peace Plus and all costs, including the purchase and installation of the benches, are covered within the funding and locations have been fully agreed with all site managers.”
In addition, Ms Duddy said it was the intention of the Peace Plus programme to build on the benches and “deliver a number of wellbeing programmes associated with them, including chatty walks, nature connection walks etc”.
The Chatty Benches Programme originated in Wales a number of years ago to tackle the issue of loneliness and has inspired a movement that has spread across the world.
The idea was created by Allison Owen-Jones, from Cardiff, who observed an elderly man sitting alone on a park bench for 40 minutes one day, ignored by everyone who passed him. This moved her so much that she came up with the idea of placing a sign on the bench letting people know you are open to a simple chat.
Allison laminated signs and placed them around her home city of Cardiff from May 2019 – and the idea began to take off!
The first phase of the Chatty Benches programme across the ABC borough was developed and saw the installation of seven brightly painted benches in parks at the Palace Demesne, Loughgall, Solitude, Dromore, Lurgan, Edenvilla and Tannaghmore.
Painted bright yellow, the Chatty Benches also have a QR Code that takes users to online mental health support resources, offering a range of useful information on looking after mental and emotional wellbeing.
The next 12 benches will now be installed at Gosford Forest Park, Banbridge Riverside Walk, Gilford Riverside Walk, Portadown People’s Park, Lord Lurgan Park, Craigavon City Park, Scarva Park, Kinnegoe Park, Oxford Island, Clare Glen, Keady Glen and the Folly Glen in Armagh.
Committee agreed to the locations and backed the programme.
But two went further and enquired if benches might be considered at their own suggested locations.
DUP Alderman Margaret Tinsley asked if a bench could be investigated for Kernan. She said she was “constantly contacted” by residents who walked from the play park and there was “quite a distance” between it and other locations like Rushmere and Drumnagoon.
“If there was a spare it would actually be beneficial,” said Alderman Tinsley.
Sinn Fein Councillor Mary O’Dowd also enquired about the possibility of a bench between Taghnevan and Lurgan, where “there is no seating whatsoever”.
“It’s elderly people that have been contacting me in relation to it, because when they are walking in there’s nowhere for them to take a break,” said the councillor.
The head of parks offered hope to both, as Ms Duddy said there “may be slippage” in terms of funding she would see if that could be used “for additional benches in the locations you’ve suggested”.
