Afterlife Benches

About

Afterlife has been a very successful series produced by Netflix to discuss the process around losing a loved one. During the series, many scenes showed actor Ricky Gervais (Tony) sitting on a bench discussing the loss of his wife with a bereaved widow who had also lost her partner.

As a part of a wider national project in the UK, Netflix and the suicide prevention charity ‘Campaign Against Living Miserably’ (CALM) created 25 Afterlife benches to help those struggling with poor mental health cope. Nottingham was gifted two of these benches which can be found by the lake in Highfields park - on the University of Nottingham campus and in the Arboretum Park. The benches are engraved with the quote ‘hope is everything’ as part of a campaign to maintain the legacy of the series, but also to offer those coping with a loss a point of refuge and respite. The benches can also be found in other locations around the country, including; Ashford (Kent), Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Falmouth, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Minehead, Newcastle upon Tyne, Surrey Heath and Taunton.

Nottingham City council has spoken of the benches as a place of respite, and said that they hope these benches will help those struggling to discuss and reflect on their lives; with the aim of coping with the hardships experienced as a consequence of the recent lockdowns.

If you, or someone you know is struggling and would like to visit an afterlife bench location in Nottingham, you can find their addresses here ; Waverley St, Nottingham NG7 4HF and University Blvd, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2RD.

If you are struggling with your mental health, please get in touch with the Nottinghamshire Mental Health crisis line, available at nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/adult-social-care/mental-health-wellbeing/suicide-awareness.