Mum hopes bench will be 'sign of hope' and save those thinking of suicide

SUZANNE HOWES HOPES THE NEW RED BENCH NEAR WHITLEY BAY'S SPANISH CITY WILL SAVE LIVES

- By SAM VOLPE

ON World Suicide Prevention Day, a Gosforth mum unveiled a special “red bench” at the coast in Whitley Bay as part of a moving project to remind those who may be struggling that they are not alone. Suzanne Howes - whose son Samuel died in 2020 - has funded a bench at the Spanish City as part of the Red Bench Project.

The bench was unveiled to mark the annual day - and is one of three that the project led by Wayne Rambo Groves has now expanded to North Tyneside. Previously Wayne has, through the project, facilitated benches in South Tyneside.

Suzanne, who lives in Gosforth, and her family have funded the bench in Whitley Bay, and she told The Chronicle why it was something that meant a lot to them. She said: “I have been following the project online and it is such a simple idea - it really seems to make a difference. It’s about community and it’s about the community looking after one another. And of course it’s funded by people, like us, who have lost somebody to suicide.