NETFLIX DONATES BENCHES TO UK COMMUNITIES IN NEW MENTAL HEALTH SCHEME
The ‘Hope is Everything’ campaign from Netflix was created in association with suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), to mark the release of television series After Life Season 3 and provide valuable support to communities across the UK.
After Life features actor and comedian, Ricky Gervais as Tony, a man grieving for his wife Lisa. In the series, Tony often sits on a bench at his local churchyard as a place to reflect, share, listen and eventually begin to hope for a future.
Netflix decided to launch a creative campaign based on this idea that something as simple as a bench could offer much needed support for people struggling in the community. The subscription service and production company donated 25 benches to local councils around the UK to help them to create spaces for reflect and find peace.
Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM says, “Park benches provide opportunities to reflect, talk to someone, sit shoulder to shoulder with someone and get things off your chest. That is why we’re delighted to team up with Netflix to put benches in parks across the country - inscribed with that crucial line from the show, “Hope is everything” - to help people have those conversations and to show it’s normal to have those feelings.”
From the 14 January benches will be places in locations including Bath, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Taunton and Surrey Heath. The benches are all engraved with a quote from After Life, “Hope is Everything.”
The benches were commissioned with support from suicide prevention charity, CALM, who offer help, advice, and information to anyone who is struggling or in crisis. The benches feature a unique QR code that takes users to crisis resources, alongside the message “Life can be tough, but there’s always hope. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is by your side.”
Ricky Gervais, says, “We hope the benches will create a lasting legacy for After Life, as well as become a place for people to visit, and we are thrilled to be associated with CALM and the great work they do.”
Below is a list of the various bench locations.