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Mum fundraises to install mental health support bench in Wellingborough
Overview
A mother from north Northamptonshire has raised about £1,265 to install a mental health support bench along the Embankment in Wellingborough. Anne-Marie organised the initiative in memory of her ex-partner, who took his own life in 2024, and through her community group The Seddon Legacy Project. The bench features contact numbers, a reading light, and QR codes linking to 24-hour support services, aiming to show struggling individuals that they are not alone.
Key points
- Anne-Marie raised approximately £1,265 to install a mental health bench on the Wellingborough Embankment.
- The initiative honours the father of her two sons, who died by suicide in 2024.
- Anne-Marie founded The Seddon Legacy Project to improve access to bereavement services after her partner's death.
- The bench was supplied by suicide prevention charity Legend on the Bench and created in collaboration with North Northamptonshire Council, SoBS, and Kelly's Heroes.
- The installation includes a reading light, phone numbers, and QR codes directing people to 24-hour support services.
- Approximately 77 people take their own lives each year in Northamptonshire.