An unplanned Bench Chat

I don’t record every bench chat I have, sometimes because people don’t want me to record them. Sometimes because I don’t realise stopping for a quick catch up is going to turn into a “Bench Chat” moment. On this occasion a simple question to me – “What are you up to?” Evolved into a conversationContinue reading “An unplanned Bench Chat”

Pull Up a Seat

What I Learned from the Bench Chat Project By Deborah Needle, Community Facilitator, Naturally Birmingham Let me tell you something I’ve learned through this work: sometimes, the simplest ideas are the ones that change people the most. The Friendship Bench Chat wasn’t born in a boardroom, from a strategy paper, or after a round ofContinue reading “Pull Up a Seat”

Reflecting on my role

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Community Facilitator Being a Community Facilitator for the Future Parks Accelerator (FPA) Project is a role filled with purpose, passion, and—sometimes—loneliness. As the final stage of the FPA project that looked at urban nature development comes to a close, I am asking those involved in the project to reflect onContinue reading “Reflecting on my role”