Need 

High levels of poor mental health, including substance misuse, is one of the issues that makes East Belfast more vulnerable to paramilitary activity, criminality and organized crime. The East Belfast Health and Wellbeing project was commissioned to improve how health and wellbeing issues are addressed. 

Action

The ‘Chatty Benches’ initiative comprises a variety of activities, facilitated and spontaneous, focused on the establishment of spaces for members of the community to come together and start conversations so that those who need support can be connected with those who provide it.  

Chatty Benches brought 19 community organisations in the area together and installed 20, colourful benches across inner East Belfast. Each of the benches is attached to a specific community organisation, who use the bench to initiate conversations that enable them to identify community members in need of both formal and informal support. 

Result

Connecting people with support services: Through organised activities which use the benches as a focal point or gathering space, Chatty Benches have reached an estimated 400+ participants.  

Strengthening Local Networks: In addition to supporting local community members, many respondents to the evaluation of Chatty Benches noted that there are significant benefits to the local organisations involved. The collaboration involved and relationships developed has helped to soften dividing lines between organisations which can emerge related to funding competition or lack of awareness of the work each other do. One community worker pointed out the importance of connecting different parts of East Belfast through the project: “it makes the outer East a bit more involved with inner East in the same sort of programme and a bit more inclusive”.  

Enhancing Local Infrastructure: The ‘Chatty Benches’ project has created 20 new spaces that can be used to facilitate community connection. This gives community members more organic ways to reach out than going through more formal referral processes. This means people who might otherwise not have been aware of services are connected, individuals who may not see themselves in need of support can be linked in with organisations at early intervention stages, and organisations can signpost users of the bench on to a range of services in the local area.