Sussex Launches “Friendship Benches” To Help Tackle Loneliness In Local Communities

Sussex is getting a heart-warming new addition to its community fabric.

Friendship Benches offer a fresh initiative aimed at tackling loneliness and offering accessible mental health support across towns and villages across the county.

Inspired by a model that’s already proven successful in other parts of the world, the scheme places benches in public indoor spaces — like libraries, community halls, and local centres — where people can sit and talk to a trained “listener.”

These volunteers are often dubbed “grandmothers” and “grandfathers” for their patient, conversational approach.

Dr. Nina Lockwood, one of the leaders of the pilot programme, said:

“We urgently need to adopt agile, alternative ways of working.

"The answers to the global mental health crisis do not lie only in more diagnoses or prescriptions.”

In Sussex, the pilot will involve 10 lay counsellors delivering weekly sessions over six to eight weeks.

Importantly, while the benches are public, people will be asked to book a slot for a conversation — not simply drop by.

What makes the project so compelling is how it digs deeper than surface-level symptoms.

A “listener” might hear someone open up about being stuck in a one-room home with multiple children, or coping with unemployment — underlying life struggles that aren’t always visible. As one of the first Sussex “grandmothers” explained:

“If someone comes to us with stress, we take the time to listen until they reveal what’s really going on — whether it’s housing or joblessness — and then we help with that.”

Early evidence from similar projects suggests this approach can lead to dramatic improvements: fewer clinical symptoms of depression, reduced suicidal ideation, and better-quality-of-life scores.

Local organisations, councils and libraries across Sussex are already in talks to host benches, and community groups are being encouraged to volunteer and spread the word.

For Sussex, the initiative offers something more than counselling: it’s a gesture of care, a visible reminder that conversations — not just prescriptions — can enrich people’s lives.

If you’d like to ask about volunteer opportunities, suggest a bench location, or refer someone you think might benefit, keep an eye on your local council or community centre announcements.