AWARD YEAR
2021
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being, Sustainable Cities & Communities
KEYWORDS
community, elderly, Loneliness, social issues, urban gardening
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
The Friendly Bench
WEBSITE
https://www.thefriendlybench.co.uk
The Friendly Bench
Reconnecting people through benches and urban gardens
The Friendly Bench CIC is a social enterprise which aims to tackle loneliness, social isolation and build community cohesion using our innovative, purposely designed outdoor social spaces that reconnect people back to their own community.
Specially designed, constructed and adhering to DDA guidelines, The Friendly Bench™ are safe, easily accessible mini-community gardens with integrated seating and sensory planting which are situated within communities for people to meet, chat, connect with nature, build friendships and a sense of belonging.
The Friendly Bench™ are active, social hubs where free, community-led activities and events are regularly held to encourage everyone to participate, have fun, feel accepted, valued and develop a support network.
Every The Friendly Bench™ is independently managed, funded and run by its own voluntary group / organisation for their own community.