The Red Bench Project

07/06/2026

We met up with the Veterans at Ease team last week to look at ways to help and support our veteran community, something The Red Bench Project has done since day one. It’s always great to make new connections and work with other incredible organisations, after all, it’s always about working together and helping and supporting each other. So watch this space for upcoming joint projects.

It’s also approaching Armed Forces Week, so why not head down to Cafe 22 on Jackson Street, Gateshead for this great offer, maybe check out the charity shop too whilst you are there.

If you are a veteran who is struggling pop in and ask to chat with one of the team and they can help you with so much more.

🇬🇧 SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR FORCES & VETERANS THIS ARMED FORCES WEEK! 🇬🇧

To show our immense appreciation, CAFÉ 22 Gateshead at Veterans at Ease is offering an incredible deal. From Monday 22nd June to Saturday 27th June, all serving military personnel and military veterans can get a lunch AND dessert for only £2! 🥣🍰

Choose from our delicious home-cooked classics, including:🥟 * * * Hearty mince and dumplings🍛
* Flavourful curry with rice or chips🍲
* Comforting sausage casserole ... and much more!📍

Where to find us: Café 22, 9 Jackson Street, Gateshead (right next to the Veterans at Ease Gateshead charity shop).🪪 Please note: This exclusive offer is available upon proof of military service.🙌

A huge, heartfelt thank you to Gateshead Council for kindly supporting this initiative and helping us look after our local military community. Please SHARE this post and spread the word to any veterans or serving personnel you know. We cannot wait to welcome as many of you as possible! ❤️

06/06/2026

I just want to say thank you to this absolute Angel, Christine Dorward, she raised £160 for The Red Bench Project, even when she hasn’t been well herself. She is selfless and always raises money for others, recently raising money for our friend Colin Burgin-Plews too. This is the person who donated the knitted poppies that we placed on our benches for Remembrance Day which her and her group The Nutty Knitters of South Tyneside kindly donated. She was also nominated at Thursdays awards and I personally think she should have won, because she is just an incredibly kind, loving, generous and caring person and we love you to bits Christine, thank you for all that you do for EVERYONE else ❤️

05/06/2026

A big thanks to Matt Bailey at Breakfast on BBC Newcastle for having us on to promote The Red Bench Project, volunteers week and the Make a difference awards. The continued support means the world to us, so even after only 3 hours sleep (if that 🙈) I’d happily get up at daft o’clock for Matt lol. Being evil I made Rob Adamson join me, if I have to suffer then so does he hahaha

04/06/2026

Today is the day when we celebrate everything that is good about our little town, and there is so much good to celebrate. Tonight is the awards, one of my favourite nights of the year. No matter the results, if you have been nominated then you ARE a winner. The fact that someone has taken the time to nominate you means more than any award, because that means you have made a difference to someone.

I hope everyone attending has an amazing night, get your hankies ready as I often have a little cry hearing the incredible stories told. Please make sure you grab yourself one of our wristbands when you get your certificate, that is our way of saying THANK YOU to you for what you all do for our community ❤️

If you can I would love to see photos of you with your wristbands or even sitting on our bench just outside of The Customs House ❤️

03/06/2026

The Red Bench Guy documentary by Director David Taylor and Elizabeth of Seaspray Films is now available for EVERYONE to watch.

What started off as an idea for a short film turned into a documentary that became an event and has had charity screenings at Cineworld Boldon and The Customs House which both highlighted other local charities including The Blue Door Project, Bede's Helping Hands Food Bank K.A.V.S., Veterans for Veterans in Care, Andys Man Club Souter Lighthouse, Chilln N Spilln, A Step Forward - South Tyneside, Earl John Charlton and Colin Burgin-Plews - AKA The Big Pink Dress, as well as music from Liam Fender. Plus it was screened at Far North's Business Unite 2025 event, the North East International Film Festival and Sunderland Shorts Film Festival

Thank you to everyone that helped in any way (too many to mention) or attended any of the screenings. Please share this link as it may help someone who is struggling.

If you are watching for the first time please be aware that it may trigger you as su***de is talked about very openly, but we have to talk about it and normalise the fact that it is ok to talk if we are struggling, as hiding it away does not help and can lead you down a very dark path.

https://youtu.be/mlSSZMVv78o?si=lC6tN1cBQq787tf0

The Red Bench Project is here to help you if you are struggling, please reach out if you need it, you are not alone.

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From the depths of a silent battle with severe depression to foundi...

02/06/2026

❤️❤️ WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A VOLUNTEER WITH US? ❤️❤️

This week is Volunteers Week and I just want to say thank you to everyone that has volunteered in some way to help The Red Bench Project to grow. Some have helped for a day, some have helped since day one, but all are equally as important so thank you ❤️

I am going to arrange a Volunteer Event soon so that we can organise things a lot better, as it’s now getting to the point where I really could do with some extra help and support, so if you would like to volunteer in some way then please leave a comment below and once I have some dates/times I will contact you. It could be sending emails, helping to update the website/socials, organising fundraising or events, if you think you could bring something to The Red Bench Project then we’d love to hear from you, let us know if there’s something you want to do/offer that could help us.

01/06/2026

This Thursday sees the Awards held at The Customs House.

Every year I wear my badge with pride, as I will this year too, but this year I’m proud and honoured to be donating these limited edition wristbands to all of the nominees and people attending. So when you pick up your certificate after the awards make sure you get your wristband too. In either White or Red.

This is such an incredible event, our favourite one of the year because it is full of the most incredible people doing amazing things here in our home town. I love hearing everyone’s stories, seeing everyone in their branded hoodies and tops highlighting the name of their charity or group.

We would love to see photos of you wearing your The Red Bench Project wristband, or even better, sitting on our bench that is just in front of the Customs House.

We hope everyone attending has an amazing night, every single nominee is a winner ❤️

31/05/2026

Not a sympathy post, but an awareness post. Not all disabilities are obvious and visible. The hidden part that people don’t see, I’ve spent 90% of today asleep and that’s after a good nights sleep as well. Working an event can wipe me out for a day or two, so whilst everyone else is out enjoying their weekend I’m just trying to recover from work. I’ve been trying to pull myself around for the last hour so I can get sorted and ready for work tonight. Yet people are sometimes shocked when I tell them things like this because they see me looking “normal” and don’t realise that the short time I appear that way is because of the crash days like today when I physically can’t move or I spend most of my time asleep. Never judge a book 😉