A bench to combat loneliness

English Heritage has derived a simple, yet novel way to help reduce loneliness amongst new parents. 

‘Bonding benches’ have a sign attached to them that can be switched between ‘up for a chat’ or ‘craving quiet’. The initiative by English Heritage was rolled out at historic sites including castles, abbeys and gardens across the UK ahead of the recent half-term holidays.

The benches are located where parents can sit and watch their child play, such as near playgrounds and fields. By moving the sign to say ‘up for a chat’, the benches subtly show the person is free to talk while the kids play.

With families representing 35% of visits to heritage sites, the charity is well placed to help address this issue. A whopping 62% of new parents in the country feel lonely or isolated. In Australia, the statistics are not much better. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are reported to affect up to 1 in 5 Australian mothers, with 1 in 7 experiencing post-natal depression according to the Black Dog Institute. 

Find out more about the Bonding Benches at English Heritage.

Image courtesy of English Heritage.