Special ‘Breathing Space’ Bench Unveiled in Huntlyburn Ward’s ‘Space to Grow’ on World Kindness Day

WORLD KINDNESS DAY (13Nov) is a global day promoting the importance of being kind to each other. To mark this day, a special ‘Take some Breathing Space’ bench has been installed in the grounds of Huntlyburn Ward’s, ‘Space to Grow’ garden and allotment in a bid to boost mental health awareness. The bench is part of a wider initiative by Breathing Space, Scotland’s mental health phone service, to enhance spaces where communities are able to connect outdoors and improve their mental wellbeing.

Huntlyburn Ward’s ‘Space to Grow’ provides green-fingered patients and volunteers with the opportunity to enjoy the natural environment away from the hospital ward.

The new bench features a Breathing Space plaque providing information on the helpline, which is available at evenings and weekends for anyone feeling low, stressed or anxious.

Lisa-Jane Dock, Breathing Space National Development Officer, explained: “We’ve teamed up with NHS Borders to be involved in this fantastic initiative where patients and staff associated with Huntlyburn Ward have been involved in creating this lovely outdoor space.

“The addition of the Breathing Space bench will, I hope, help to spread positivity and opportunities for people to reach out and show kindness. We have a number of benches now across Scotland to increase awareness of the support available from Breathing Space for anyone feeling low. A listening ear and compassionate response is only a phone call away.”

Jan Moffat, Space to Grow Lead at NHS Borders, said: "It is fitting that we are marking World Kindness Day by receiving a Breathing Space bench because Space to Grow has been built on continued kindness from our community.

“People have donated time, plants, seeds, wood, topsoil and funds, amongst other things to help create and maintain this valuable resource. Having a calming green space where patients can learn and engage in productive, therapeutic activity away from the ward environment has always proved to have significant mental health benefits.

“This year during the Covid pandemic Space to Grow has become so much more, to many more people. It’s a quiet, private outdoor space for people to safely meet while physically distancing: health and social work colleagues use it to meet with patients and our staff drop in for respite and to reconnect with nature and colleagues, which has been particularly useful for staff members who were shielding or are working remotely.

“Space to Grow has a different meaning for different people, but whatever it means to you - it is important and the benefits of helping to weed, tend the garden or simply sit in nature for ten minutes can be surprising.”