Legend on the Bench—78

Our bench is a bridge to cross from despair to hope, from silence to understanding, from talking to listening and from you to someone who cares.

We are incredibly proud to announce the installation and unveiling of our 78th Bench in the beautiful and historic city of Harrogate, a truly breathtaking location that could not be more fitting for such an important moment.

Despite challenging weather, the unveiling was wonderfully well attended. As always, the moment the cover is lifted brings a wave of pride, emotion, and goosebumps. It is a moment that reminds us exactly why we do this work.

The speeches delivered on the day were both heartfelt and powerful. They echoed a message that must continue to be heard, Mental Health must remain at the forefront of our thoughts. The stigma must be removed. There is no shame in seeking help, in fact, reaching out, speaking up, and listening are among the bravest things a person can do.

We were honoured to welcome so many prominent supporters from Harrogate Council etc, who played meaningful roles in making this Bench possible. Our sincere thanks go to.

Justin Shepherd & business partner Carl Ward, for their exceptional work in fundraising and supporting location approvals. Your dedication was vital.

Harrogate Representatives in Attendance

• Cllr Michael Harrison – NYC Executive Member for Health and Adult Services

• Louise Wallace – NYC Director of Public Health

• Natalie Smith – NYC Head of Health and Adult Services Planning – Public Health

• Dan Atkinson – NYC Public Health Manager

• Liz Meade – NYC Communities Area Manager Central

• Bob – who generously donated his time to fit the bench

• Friends of Valley Gardens – a dedicated voluntary community group

• Tammi Huxtable – NYC Memorial Bench Officer

• Maureen Traynor – Bereavement Services

To each and every one of you who attended, Thank You. Your presence brings meaning to these moments and helps us raise crucial awareness around Mental Health and Suicide. Together, we are making a change, a change for the better, a change to the world.

There’s something special about a park bench.

A place to sit.

To breathe.

To think.

But for our remarkable charity, a bench is so much more than that.

It is a lifeline.

A symbol of hope.

A reminder that someone, somewhere, is always listening.🙏🙏🙏