Mikeysline encourages people in Nairn to stop and take a moment' with new benches
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Two new benches will give walkers around Nairn a chance to take the weight off – physically and mentally – thanks to a Highland charity.
Mikeysline has placed one of the distinctive wooden benches on the seafront, by Nairn Leisure Centre, with the other by the cricket pavilion in the town’s Marine Road.
The idea behind the benches is to give people a time to pause and reflect and came from Mikeysline community volunteers Callum and Ross Kinnaird, formerly school champions at Nairn Academy.
Callum said: “The idea of the benches came from when I watched the TV series After Life. I did a bit of research and saw that there were areas in England that had similar ‘Listening Benches’.
“I got in touch with the Mikeysline team who looked into this and created a project that we worked on together.
“We managed to secure the funding and get these benches started on.
“I aim for this to be a space for the Nairn community and beyond to sit down and gather their thoughts, and hopefully by signposting our services on these benches people will reach out and use our service when they need it, not just in a matter of crisis.
“I am very proud of this project and delighted with the outcome. “
The benches – created by Chainsaw Creations and funded by Highland Council – aim to encourage people to “take a moment” while also signposting those who might need support to Mikeysline.
“We are really thankful to Donald Coghill and his community payback team, they have gone above and beyond with organising the installation,” Callum added.
Mikeysline provides support for anyone suffering mental health difficulties or suicidal thoughts via its text service on 07786 20 77 55 from Sunday to Thursday, 6-10pm and Friday-Saturday 7pm-7am, and can also be contacted via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Webchat and Twitter.
