We are thrilled to announce that we have completed the installation of our latest The Friendly Bench™ in Ipswich this week.
Working with the fabulous NW Ipswich Big Local Trust, our latest The Friendly Bench™ is situated in the grounds of Castle Hill Community Centre in Ipswich and will help bring together members of the local community to positively improve their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as help tackle loneliness and social isolation.
When it is safe to do so The Friendly Bench™ will be officially launched and opened (we will keep you posted with updates), after which NW Ipswich Big Local Trust will be regularly hosting and promoting events at The Friendly Bench™ which will be open and free for everyone to attend.
Tracey Dockery, Project Lead at NW Ipswich Big Local Trust said, “We are absolutely thrilled to have The Friendly Bench™ in Ipswich, we have so many exciting plans already and can’t wait to get started.”
Lyndsey Young, Founder of The Friendly Bench™ said, “We are so excited about working with NW Ipswich BLT and the Castle Hill Community Centre, having The Friendly Bench™ installed here will give so many people of all ages a chance to meet, socialise, participate in activities and learn new things. It will be beautiful social, community hub for everyone to meet, make new friends, feel accepted and valued.’
This The Friendly Bench™ has been made possible thanks to players of the National Lottery and is the first of 10 The Friendly Benches supported by The National Lottery Community Fund which are being installed across the England this year and next, including Rotherham, Bury, Rugby and Halesowen to name a few.