Chatty Bench initiative reaches 1000 benches nationwide, helping tackle loneliness in later life

Anchor, England's largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life, is celebrating a significant milestone after installing its 1,000th Chatty Bench.

Painted in bright colours, the benches each feature a plaque reading "sit here if you don't mind someone stopping to say hello”. For anyone who fancies a chat, or a bit of company, it's an easy way to find both, offering an increasingly rare opportunity for people to connect and strike up a conversation face to face.

To mark the 1000th bench, residents at The Laurels in Doncaster came together for a celebration that captured what the Chatty Bench initiative is all about. An afternoon full with laughter, catching up over cups of tea, and plenty of stories swapped between neighbours old and new.

Since the initiative launched in 2022, Chatty Benches have been popping up in towns and cities across the country, from Westfield shopping centre in London to Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, as well as inside Anchor’s care homes and retirement communities.

They've helped form new friendships and connections, with residents gathering over Cornish cream teas and strawberries, arranging regular meetups, including a newly established gentlemen's group and a book club. And it's not just people who've become regulars; a few dogs have become familiar faces on the benches too.

The milestone comes at a time when the UK's population is ageing rapidly and loneliness among older people is a growing public health concern.

By 2034, almost one in five of us will be aged 65 or over. Yet as the country ages, our connections to one another are thinning. Research in 2024 found that 5.8 million people over 65 already feel lonely at least some of the time, a figure projected to climb further, with 1.2 million people over 65 in England expected to often feel lonely by 2034 unless action is taken.

Regular social contact has even been shown to help reverse frailty in older age. Simply sitting on a Chatty Bench invites anyone to sit down and start talking, reminding us that even a simple conversation on a bench can make a real difference.

Residents took turns sharing what the benches had meant to them, from unexpected chats with strangers who became friends, to the comfort of having somewhere to go and someone to talk to.

As loneliness among older people continues to rise across the country, Anchor hopes more people will take a seat, strike up a conversation, and discover just how much a hello from a stranger can change someone’s day.

Pauline, resident at The Laurels, said: "I sit out there most afternoons now and you'd be surprised how many people stop for a chat. I've met so many new people and caught up with familiar faces, and it was wonderful to be part of the celebrations for the 1,000th bench. When you live on your own, having somewhere to sit and knowing someone might join you makes such a difference."

Lauren Smith, Resident Wellbeing Lead at Anchor, said: “Chatty Benches are something I feel incredibly passionate about, so reaching our target of 1,000 benches across Anchor locations and in public spaces is a moment I feel really proud of.

I’ve had the privilege of hearing so many wonderful stories from residents and communities, people telling me how a simple bench led to a conversation they wouldn’t have otherwise had, or how it helped them feel a little less alone. Those moments really stay with me and remind me why this work matters so much.

Seeing this grow from an idea into something that is now making a difference in so many communities is truly inspiring, and I feel very proud to have been part of that journey.”