In an effort to fight against the growing problem of isolation in today’s world, a local Maidstone resident has launched an initiative to introduce ‘Connect Benches’ across Maidstone to encourage people to open up about their mental health.
Mark Allan, who created Job Doctors Surgery, a community interest company set up to combat redundancy, mental health and loneliness, is no stranger to the detriment these factors can cause to one’s life and hopes he can help people in similar conditions.
Mark told us that when he tried to create his own recruitment business in 2018, he was met with a number of roadblocks and the lack of support sent him down a spiral of loneliness that was difficult to return from.
A LinkedIn post by Mark, that was seen by over 6.5 million people, led him to create the Job Doctors Surgery and in turn Connect Point, a mental health initiative that aims to make the invisible visible by acknowledging loneliness and mental health and offer an information point.
We caught up with Mark to find out a little bit more about Connect Point, and the Connect Benches.
For those who don’t know, what is Connect Point and what are its aims?
“There are two aims to the project, the first being to make mental health visual and present in the community. It should be delivered in an inclusive way that everybody can understand and by making it visual I believe makes it impossible to ignore. The other aim of the project is to offer a place where a comprehensive range of support services and advice can be gained.”
Can you talk to us about the idea behind the Connect Benches?
“Connect benches are an initiative to create safe outside spaces for the community to engage. So far Golding Homes have supported the project and two benches have been created on Hale Road. I created a bench in memory of Tommy Thwaites in November 2020, that was my first bench and I have more planned as I have meetings with sports clubs, mental health organisations and colleges to discuss further benches.
“I think that it is vital that we talk openly about mental health, as by verbalising it also makes it present. I feel there are many people that live in this world that feel that they are different from other people, we are in such infancy of talking about mental health I think people will find, actually, they are not different it’s just that it hasn’t been spoken about.
“I am appealing for members of the public who would be willing to help with leaflets, and if you know of anywhere that a Connect Point poster can be displayed or would like to get involved please contact me at [email protected].”
The Connect site will be live soon; until then, visit the Facebook page @connectpointme. If you would like to donate visit: www.jobdoctors.org.uk/donate.
** This project is dedicated to Alicia Havelock De-Waele.