Talking benches mental health scheme expands

Wayne Rambo Groves founded The Red Bench Project to help people with their mental health

Additional benches have been installed as part of a scheme to help people talk about their mental health.

The Red Bench Project, which provides seats showing information about mental health support and encourages passers-by to chat to users, expanded across South Tyneside this week.

Wayne Rambo Groves, from South Shields, founded the project in 2023 after "struggling" for many years.

He said: "I've been the person on both sides of the bench. I don't want other people to feel alone."

There are now six benches in the North East after four more were installed this week in places including Jarrow, Hebburn and Marsden.

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Mr Groves said he spent many years going to "his spot" on a beach to help him decompress when he was struggling with his mental health.

When his friend passed away from medical complications, Mr Groves said he went to the beach and thought: "I've always wanted a bench in my memory when I died, so why not get one now?"

Signs on the benches direct people to mental health support services

Mr Groves described how the benches encourage people to talk about their mental health struggles.

"When I used to regularly sit on benches at the coast, I only ever had one person see if I was okay."

He heard from a colleague that someone had sat on one of his red benches just to relax and they were immediately approached by someone asking how they were.

"It shows people that they are not alone," Mr Groves said.

There are plans for The Red Bench Project to expand across the North East.

Mr Groves said he already had funding for one in Newcastle and he was in conversation with Durham County and Sunderland City Council to install benches there.

He also said the project aims to go into schools to help children construct their own benches.

"We want to try and get to the kids before they feel lost," he said.