It’s good to talk! Deeping St Nicholas installs chatty bench… and five more are on the way
Villagers are enjoying getting to know one another at a chatter and natter bench… with five more planned for the area.
The seating has been installed in Deeping St Nicholas’ New Road, funded by the parish’s Good Neighbour Scheme with the intention of kicking off conversation.
“If you’re feeling lonely go sit down and someone will talk to you,” said Deeping St Nicholas Parish Council’s vice-chairman Coun Rob Jarvis.
“A lot of people use this one up here. It’s mainly elderly people and dog walkers.
“A lot of strangers meet there, they’ve got nowhere else to go.”
Coun Jarvis said the bench was inspired by similar ones in Spalding’s Swan Street and Ayscoughfee Gardens, which encourage people to take a seat and make enjoy conversation with a stranger.
The Deeping Fen Windfarm Advisory Committee have also donated £500 to ensure five more benches can be installed across Deeping St Nicholas and Hop Pole.
These benches are also set to have QR codes fitted to help raise awareness of mental health issues for men, after requests were made by locals.
In addition to the benches, the Good Neighbour Scheme continues to hold fortnightly chatter and natter meetings open to all on Monday mornings, wither in the village or at Vine House Farm.
“We’re still going from strength to strength,” added Coun Jarvis, who runs the scheme.
“Every fortnight we do different themes; a ploughman’s lunch, bacon rolls, strawberries and cream - and we raise money every fortnight”.
The Good Neighbour Scheme and the village’s Neighbourhood Watch are both on the lookout for volunteers to join the teams.
Anyone interested can contact Coun Jarvis at rjarvis.dsnpc@gmail.com or by calling 07928 181 936.