Chatty Benches at BioQuarter
Life during the coronavirus pandemic has been tough for everyone and particularly those most vulnerable in our society.
It’s always good to talk – and listen – and this is something we encourage at Edinburgh BioQuarter.
You can now enjoy a good chat, with a seat in the fresh air, on any of the ‘Chatty Benches’ that were recently installed. The final touches have now been added to each bench, displaying plaques which relate to different types of support that may be required, to provide help to others and raise awareness of a particular concern.
Arran Ellis, Facilities Manager, Colliers at NINE and the BioCubes, who managed this project said:
“The Chatty Benches have been placed in the landscaped area outside Building NINE and each bench offers support for a different reason, helping others especially during these difficult times.
The benches encourage people to sit and talk, and we hope everyone will make use of them to have a good natter – staff, contractors, people in neighbouring properties and the general public are all invited!
The views across BioQuarter and the Edinburgh surrounds are pretty good too.”
On Edinburgh BioQuarter, we aim to provide a welcoming place for those who work here or may be visiting, and where people from local neighbourhoods can walk and relax or engage with our community projects to nurture a real sense of place and improve wellbeing.
We look forward to seeing people using the new Chatty Benches, taking time for a seat and a chat, helping to bring generations together to help put a stop to adult loneliness and improve social connections to improve mental health
Many tenants within NINE are also trained as Mental Health First Aiders. They have chosen to do this to help others and recognise the growing need for some friendly support.
Never suffer in silence.
You can find out more about the ‘Chatty Benches’ initiative in this YouTube video >
https://youtu.be/5IiwkCJY5Ro
Further information
The number of over-50’s experiencing loneliness in the UK set to reach two million by 2025. Let’s change that.
If you are over 50 and feel lonely, you can contact Sovereign Assist online at https://www.sovereignassist.co.uk/sovereign-social or call t: 020 369 57557
One adult in eight and one child in ten requires mental health support and treatment.
Let’s change that.
For emotional support, you can contact Samaritans on t: 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258 and Childline at https://www.childline.org.uk or t: 0800 1111
