New community bench unveiled in Rockingham Road Pleasure Park, Kettering offers a place to rest and a beacon of hope for mental health
Mental health and wellbeing28 October 2025
North Northamptonshire Council has joined with non-profit making charity Legend on the Bench to install a bench in Rockingham Road Pleasure Park, Kettering.
Legend on the Bench is a non-profit making charity set up by ex-professional footballer, Micky Hazard, and his sister Michelle following the tragic death of Michelle's son Jason Lee Mead, with the aim of reducing the number of such tragedies recorded each year due to mental health issues or suicides.
The charity aims to place informative benches in parks across the country. The benches have contact telephone numbers and QR codes that will take anyone requiring support directly to the charity’s help page and 24-hour support services. They also have built-in integral lighting - providing a beam of light for those in crisis at night.
On 24 October, the bench was unveiled in the park following work between the council and Mervyn Hemmington, a fund raiser for the charity.
In Northamptonshire, around 65 people take their own life each year and we believe that every death by suicide is one too many. The work the charity is doing to prevent suicide across the country is commendable and we are extremely proud to support such an important initiative.Cllr Brian Benneyworth, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Health and Leisure
Suicide and mental health challenges are huge issues that are sadly continuing to claim lives. We hope that the installation of this bench can help someone when they are struggling most, alongside our wider work to prevent suicide in North Northamptonshire.
It’s been a pleasure dealing with North Northamptonshire Council with getting this “much needed” bench installed in a prime location in Kettering. The aim of Legend on the Bench is to have benches in every local park in the UK, offering help and support to someone struggling. To fund these benches, last year we completed a one million step walk and this year kayaked along the Nene valley raising over £10000 in all.Mervyn Hemmington, fund raiser for Legend on the Bench
The council embraced the concept and have helped us all the way with our cause to which we are extremely grateful.
There are 24-hour support services with real people at the other end, ready to listen and offer the support to someone struggling with the impact of depression, bereavement, loneliness, anxiety and the many more reasons for the feelings of despair. To find out more and access support in North Northamptonshire visit the Urgent Mental Health and Support pages of the council's website.
North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) have also reaffirmed their commitment to suicide prevention and mental health support by launching a powerful new campaign focused on male mental health, which coincided with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September 2025. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of male mental health, reduce stigma, and promote access to local and national support services. It highlights real stories from local males, encouraging open conversations, and offering messages of hope.
In Northamptonshire males are three times more likely to die by suicide than females. This follows a national trend. Watch a powerful new film of men talking about their experiences commissioned by North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council on YouTube.