Buddy Benches Update September 2023
The STAART Team and the University of Greenwich Disabled Staff Community (DSC) are delighted to let you know that all three of our Buddy Benches have been repainted for the beginning of the new academic year. However, this time we had professionals, Bagnalls, paint the benches rather than doing it ourselves.
All three Buddy Benches are in public view but a discreet distance from the other benches. This is for privacy, but also maintaining safeguarding at the same time. The QR code on each bench comes directly to this article for people to find out more about the Buddy Benches, why we introduced them, and some safeguarding advice.
Whilst the Buddy Benches are a joint effort between STAART and the DSC, this has been a coordinated effort between many teams and individuals. We are also very fortunate to have the support of Professor Jane Harrington, the University of Greenwich Vice Chancellor and CEO who has provided us with the following quote:
I am so delighted to see that our buddy benches have been repainted ready for the new team. As the 1st university to have these thanks to Melanie and the STAART team, and the Disabled Staff Community it is wonderful to see them ready for this term and to provide a much needed safe space for students and staff who may be having a difficult time.
We also have the following statement from David Elphick, Account Development and Customer relationship Manager for Bagnalls:
As a local contractor with socially minded values, we often donate materials and labour under our Community Paintbrush initiative. When we heard about the admirable Buddy Bench initiative, we were more-than-happy to provide materials and labour in order to refresh the Buddy Benches, and make them a pleasant place to sit whenever required.
Many thanks again to everybody who has contributed towards the Buddy Benches.
Dr Melanie Thorley
STAART Manager
September 2023
Professional Commercial Painting & Decorating Services | Bagnalls
The Buddy Benches at the University of Greenwich are a joint initiative between STAART and the Disabled Staff Community (DSC).
We have introduced these benches for students and staff to use. If you are having a bad day, or would just like a chat, take a seat. However, if you are having a good day and you see someone sitting on the bench on their own, please take ten minutes to say hello.
The Buddy Benches (BBs) are a brand new, shiny wellbeing initiative. The Buddy Benches were introduced to our three campuses between December 2021 and February 2022. They are very distinct as they are painted in the STAART colours – blue with white writing. There is also a QR code on each bench which directs people to this article.
There is a Buddy Bench on each campus:
Avery Hill – outside the Dome
Greenwich – outside of Dreadnought
Medway – outside of Pembroke North
Some of you may be aware of Friendship Benches in infant and primary schools for children who might be shy, anxious, isolated, or having a bad day. These benches were the concept behind our benches. The Buddy Benches were created by STAART and the Disabled Staff Community (DSC) in partnership with the student ambassador office and Facilities & Estates. The purpose of the benches is to create a safe space for staff and students who maybe having a difficult time. The reason STAART has joined forces with the DSC on this initiative is to reinforce that the Buddy Benches are for students and staff.
However, the idea of Friendship Benches are not restricted to children, nor are they a new phenomenon. Friendship Benches in Zimbabwe have been in existence since 2000 and were introduced to tackle mild and moderate anxiety and depression, known locally as kufungisisa[1]. The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) introduced 25 After Life Benches across the UK to coincide with the third Season of After Life, the Netflix series featuring Ricky Gervais who is coping with widowhood[2].
Our Buddy Benches do not have the power to provide solutions to the many difficulties facing our university community, but they do provide a safe and unjudgmental place to have a chat.
Here are a few suggestions to keep everyone safe:
- Please show anybody at the bench your UoG staff/student ID card for safeguarding.
- Please do not discuss anything which may trigger the other person in a negative way.
- Do not disclose names of other people you may be discussing.
- There is information at the bottom of this text about safeguarding concerns*.
Dr Melanie Thorley- STAART Manager: M.Thorley@gre.ac.uk
Alan Dudley – C0-Chair of DSC A.Dudley@gre.ac.uk
Matthew Nadeau- Chair of DSN: M.Nadeau@gre.ac.uk
- Phone 999 for immediate mental health concerns.
- Phone 111 for non-immediate mental health concerns.
- For students: Spectrum.Life
- For all: Home - Mind
