About the benches
Saving lives, one bench at a time.
What it is
The Red Bench Project places painted red benches at or near suicide hotspots across the UK. Each one carries the Samaritans number and a QR code linking to mental health support.
How a Red Bench works
A place to pause
Somewhere to sit, collect your thoughts, reflect, and calm down — long enough not to do anything drastic. Each bench also carries the Samaritans number and a QR to immediate help.
A silent cry for help
Sitting on a Red Bench is a quiet way of telling passers-by you're struggling. If you see someone sitting alone on one, please go and check on them. One small act of kindness can save a life.
The story behind it
The project was founded in 2023 by Wayne "Rambo" Groves, a suicide survivor, after the death of his friend Mick Beattie. Wayne had been thinking about a memorial bench in Mick's memory — then realised: why wait? Why not put one there now, so it might help other people too?
After several people rejected the idea, a chance meeting with South Tyneside Council Leader Tracey Dixon made it real. In July 2023, the first Red Bench was placed on the South Shields seafront. Since then more benches have gone up across the North East, the Lake District, Kent — with more coming across the UK.
The official project
The official charity is run by Wayne and his team. This map is a community tool to help people find Red Benches.
Visit the charity → ♥ Support on Ko-fiDesign partner
This map and a growing set of project tools are built and maintained by Mancs Stuff Ltd — Official Design Partner & Sponsor of The Red Bench Project. The Red Bench in Margate was hand-built by ChrisCanHandyman.
Know a bench we've missed?
If you've spotted a Red Bench that isn't on the map — or you'd like one in your area — let us know.
A community-built companion to The Red Bench Project, by Mancs Stuff Ltd.