New suicide prevention bench unveiled at the Embankment, Wellingborough

30 September 2026

A new bench providing a safe space for anyone struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts has been installed at the Embankment, Wellingborough.

North Northamptonshire Council has worked with local resident Anne-Marie Twigg who fundraised for the bench in collaboration with SoBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) on installing the new bench.

The bench has been supplied by Legend on the Bench - 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 26 September, the bench was officially unveiled and it can be found at what3words location ///loved.lively.photos

As a council, we are working incredibly hard to prevent suicide and are proud to support such an important initiative.

Sadly, suicide and mental health challenges continue to be a huge issue and has a devastating impact on families, friends and whole communities. We know there is still so much to do which is why we hope that this bench will help those struggling, offering support at times of need alongside our wider work across the whole of North Northamptonshire.Cllr Brian Benneyworth, the council’s Executive Member for Housing, Health and Leisure

I hope this bench can become a place where perhaps someone can pause, reflect, remember someone they love, or simply sit and know that they are not alone. I’m especially proud to have fundraised for this bench through my small community group for bereaved children- The Seddon Legacy Project. For us, sadly the project started due to our own bereavement, losing Damien to suicide in April 2024 meaning our lives changed forever.

Today this is about more than a bench. It represents so much for us and hopefully for others.

For the families who have lost someone to suicide, the grief can be incredibly difficult to put into words. Bereaved families, and particularly bereaved children, can carry that loss with them forever. They need to know that they are not alone, that their feelings matter, and that there are people and services who will listen and support them.Anne-Marie Twigg

Earlier this month, the council also approved a new Suicide Prevention Strategy, reaffirming its commitment to preventing suicide and supporting the mental wellbeing of residents.

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.