Drop-in sessions at a Church of England parish, set up to provide a \u2018safe space\u2019 for people feeling anxious or lonely in the wake of the pandemic, have proved so popular that they are being expanded to cater for demand.<\/p>\n
\u2018Ric\u2019s bench\u2019, offering tea, coffee, snacks and a place to chat at St Richard\u2019s parish in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, will be launching a fourth session<\/a> in response to demand.<\/p>\n Father Chris Brading, Vicar of St Richard\u2019s, said the two-hourly sessions are attracting people of all faiths and none to the church and hall.<\/p>\n Volunteers are coming forward from the church and the wider community, he said. The sessions are about listening, engaging with guests and providing signposting to specialist support if needed.<\/p>\n The \u2018Ric\u2019s bench\u2019 title is taken from a bench – actually a pew – preserved from the original \u2018tin church\u2019, that was demolished to make way for the current church building in the 1930s.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n How a church bench helped tackle loneliness. Great to see Ric's Bench @StRichards_HH<\/a> featured on the @churchofengland<\/a> stories page https:\/\/t.co\/dxkNlk7DF4<\/a><\/p>\n — Chichester Diocese (@ChichesterDio) January 26, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n