New benches at University of Reading aim to tackle loneliness through conversation
The HelloBench scheme aims to help people feel more able to sit and talk to a stranger - to help bring people together when they may be feeling down
The University of Reading has taken a step in addressing loneliness and isolation by installing benches designed to promote conversation and mental health support.
Three blue benches have been placed between the Edith Morley building and the Library on Whiteknights campus.
These benches are part of the HelloBench initiative, a nationwide project focusing on combating social isolation.
The plaques serve as signposts to well-being resources available for staff, students, and the wider community, while encouraging people to connect with one another.
The launch took place on University Mental Health Day on 12th March, with the theme 'Human Connection.'
Molli Cleaver, Community Engagement Manager at the University of Reading, expressed the significance of these benches: "We're really pleased to be part of the HelloBench initiative and to bring these benches to our campus.
Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone, and creating spaces that invite people to sit and talk is a small but meaningful step towards a more connected community."
The initiative aligns with the University's broader commitment to mental health and well-being, as highlighted by its achievement of a University Mental Health Charter Award in May 2025 and the launch of its Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy last October.
Cleaver emphasised the benches' role in fostering a welcoming environment for both the campus community and visitors, reflecting the University's identity as an engaged institution: "We often talk about ourselves as an engaged university or a university for Reading as much as the University of Reading, but it's really important that it's not just words, that our actions speak for themselves."
HelloBench was founded by a woman called Aliya Musa, who used her personal experience with loneliness—navigating the grief of losing her mother, working from home in isolation, and feeling disconnected as life changed around her.