Say hello at community benches for Loneliness Awareness Week
People can drop by and say hello at nine spots around Dudley borough this Loneliness Awareness Week, which runs from 12 to 18 June with an additional event on 21 June.
Residents will be able to take a seat at the decorated benches and have a chat with friendly faces from local community groups in Coseley, Dudley, Halesowen, Netherton, Pensnett, Quarry Bank, Sedgley, Wall Heath and Wordsley.
The introduction of the benches was inspired by the work of comedian John Bishop and his Say Hello campaign, which aims to build friendships among neighbours and reduce loneliness.
In Sedgley, there will be two sessions over two weeks at the bench in Vicar Street Gardens on Ladies Walk, hosted by The Beacon Centre this Wednesday and Sedgley Townswomen’s Guild on Wednesday 21 June.
Several community groups from around the borough are involved in the scheme, including Just Straight Talk, who are hosting a series of activities at a bench in Silver Jubilee Park in Coseley from Monday to Friday. The fun includes board games, boxercise, pom-pom making and more.
Mindful Moms will be saying hello at a bench at Stevens Park in Quarry Bank on Tuesday and High Oak Youth and Community Centre will be hosting sports and crafts activities at a bench in the park next to the Dell Stadium in Pensnett on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
Halesowen BID will be hosting their Say Hello bench at their existing friendly bench in the town centre from 11am to 1pm on weekdays.
Jasmine Road Gardens in Dudley will be welcoming people to a bench within their garden on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a cup of tea and some activities, while Friends of Wall Heath Park will be at their bench saying hello on Wednesday with some dog-friendly activities.
Friends of Netherton Library will be offering hot drinks and mindfulness colouring inside the library on Monday.
Dudley Council Adult Community Learning and Harry’s Cafe (Brierley Hill) are also hosting a bench at Wordsley Green on Monday, with extra dates on Thursday and Friday for friendship bracelet crafting and other activities.
John Bishop, comedian and founder of the Say Hello initiative, said:
It’s brilliant to see that Dudley Council is once again encouraging people to say hello to each other during the Month of Community with their friendly bench initiative.
Making that first connection with someone can lead to amazing things, from new friendships and shared ideas to people helping out neighbours who might need it.
Thanks to Dudley’s friendly benches, saying hello is easier than ever - I’m sure this fantastic project will inspire the whole community to have a seat, enjoy a natter and get to know someone new!
Councillor Ian Bevan, cabinet member for public health, said:
We all need to take steps to combat loneliness and build good relationships with our neighbours. The Say Hello benches are a chance for people to take five minutes and just have a friendly chat with someone they might not normally meet.
The volunteer groups that are hosting these benches do great work to keep people in touch with one another and I hope residents will come out, support these events and make the small connections that can be so important.
For more information on the events taking place at each Say Hello bench in the borough, visit the Let’s Get Healthy Dudley website.
The Say Hello benches are part of the nationwide Month of Community project, which works to build supportive, better-connected communities where people know one another more closely.
The Month of Community project grew out of the UK’s annual Big Lunch campaign and brings together a coalition of community groups and some of the UK’s best-known charities.