Across 100 parks in the UK, small solar-powered lights now glow over wooden benches carved with a simple message: “Someone is always listening.” These mental health benches offer comfort to people struggling in silence. Each bench provides helpline details and a QR code that links directly to support services.
The idea began after Michelle Hazard lost her son Jay to suicide in 2019. She asked her local council for a memorial bench in his name, but they refused. Determined to create change, she founded a charity to fund not just one bench in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, but many more across the country.
The benches already show real impact. In one case, a woman experiencing suicidal thoughts sat on a bench, scanned the QR code, and reached out for help. She later sent a message saying the support she found helped her through a very dark moment.
Michelle says the goal is simple: if someone feels alone and sees the light, they may stop, sit down, and realize people care. Even saving one life makes every bench worthwhile.
These benches now stand as quiet beacons of hope, reminding people that support is never far away.
