Benches changing lives

THESE ARE A BACKREST FOR THE WEARY, AN ARMREST FOR THE HURTING.

- NAMHLA MONAKALI

From trees marked for destruction to benches sparking hope, designer and social entrepreneur Bradley Bailey is the driving force behind the Kind Heart Bench Project, an initiative that transforms discarded wood into symbols of healing, empathy and inclusion across the Mother City.

What began as a deeply personal journey, rooted in the trauma his son faced through bullying and depression, has grown into a citywide movement.

Bailey says: "God laid on my heart the image of a tree marked X. It spoke to restoration. These benches are now spaces of care, where we come alongside the bullied, the broken, and the forgotten."

The project's symbolic benches have found homes in schools, public spaces, early-childhood centres and train stations, with over 30 installations to date and growing.

"It's more than a bench," Bailey said. "It's a backrest for the weary, an armrest for the hurting. It's a societal mirror, showing what's possible when we choose kindness, inclusion and action."