A new Hope Bench will be officially installed in Lancaster as part of a project to promote mental wellbeing and ensure people know that help is always close.
The special bench on St George's Quay near Carlisle Bridge will offer a place for calm, reflection and support - and is the first of a series of Hope Benches planned for across the Lancaster and Morecambe District.
It will be officially unveiled at 2pm this Friday (May 15) and residents are invited along to the ceremony.
Hope Benches are designed to provide a quiet, welcoming place to pause, reflect and, if needed, find clear signposting to local and national mental health support services.
Each bench carries simple, reassuring messages and information to remind people that they are not alone and that support is available.
The Hope Benches project was created by the Lancaster District Adult Mental Health Forum and brings together local organisations united around mental health awareness and community care.
By placing benches in calm, accessible locations, the project aims to create everyday spaces where people can take a moment for themselves and be gently guided towards help if they need it.
The Hope Benches initiative also links with A Million Acts of Hope, a national campaign that brings together hundreds of charities, community organisations and faith groups across the UK to make hope more visible in everyday life.
Running throughout May, the campaign celebrates practical acts of kindness and community action that help build healthier, happier neighbourhoods.
The installation of a Hope Bench in Lancaster represents a lasting local act of hope within this wider national movement, demonstrating how small, thoughtful interventions can have a meaningful impact on wellbeing at community level.
It will also be installed during Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs until May 17.
The wooden materials for the Hope Benches have been generously supplied by Jewson’s of Morecambe, at a 50 per cent discount, and the benches themselves were expertly crafted by the Lancaster Men’s Hub, a local group supporting men’s wellbeing through practical, creative activity.
The wider project has been supported through LifeFest 2025, with backing from the George and Dragon pub, alongside contributions from a range of local partners, and the bench has been installed by Lancaster City Council.
“Hope Benches are about creating small, calm spaces in our community where people can stop, breathe and know they are not alone," said a spokesperson for Lancaster District Community & Voluntary Solutions (LDCVS).
"This project shows what can be achieved when local businesses, voluntary organisations and the council work together to support mental wellbeing.”
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