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Mental Health Support Benches at the CACG
Somerset County Cricket Club have become part of an initiative led by the charity SAFE South West which has seen the creation of special benches and signage to assist people with mental health issues by providing easy access and options which enables them to access a range of information and support.
SAFE South West is a community safety charity which works closely with the Emergency Services and are helping to build on the original concept which was initiated by a firefighter in Barnstaple which saw benches situated at high-risk locations.
The project has seen a number of benches placed in locations across the region where those needing a quiet space or who are in distress might go.
The mental health support benches have a plaque along the back with a QR code and URL (for access by those without a Smart phone) leading to a link tree with a range of information and organisations providing support.
A number of these benches will now be situated at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The QR code content varies slightly in each county reflecting local services and has been finalised with input from specialists in this field and from Experts by Experience.
The message ‘Come Sit With Us’ is engraved along the back of the bench. One arm of the bench has a Samaritans plaque the other a plaque from SHOUT, a text-based organisation for those who do not wish to make a phone call. The Samaritans and SHOUT have specially designed the plaques to be small enough to fit the arms of a bench and are fixed with one way security screws.
Steven Smith, Charity Coordinator for SAFE South West said: “Last year my charity SAFE South West installed the very first bench with signage to make it easy for people to access resources and services to support their mental health in Vivary Park, Taunton. Since then, we have installed benches and added signage to others in Somerset and Devon.
“Raising awareness of the help that is available is hugely important to support people who may be experiencing mental health issues, and we are absolutely delighted to now have the information and support signs attached to benches throughout the Cooper Associates County Ground.”
Somerset CCC Operations Director, Sarah Trunks added: “We are delighted to be working with SAFE South West on this project. It’s crucial that we do everything that we can to help ensure the wellbeing of all of our Members and supporters, and mental health plays a huge role within that. This is an important initiative and one that we as a Club are proud to be promoting.”
For further information or if you have an idea for a possible location for a bench or plaques, contact Steve Smith co-ordinator SAFE South West
