We celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee this year with a series of tributes to Her Majesty, who is Patron of our Charity – and one of them was the installation of three sound benches at each of our centres.
The solar powered benches, created by Echo Point and sound artist Justin Wiggan, play a short soundscape, accessed through a button on the bench. The soundscape uses information from our community, who we asked to share the sounds they associate with positive memories and happiness. The most popular sounds were then curated into the soundscape, which forms a guided breathing exercise aimed at reducing stress, improving wellbeing and aiding relaxation.
You can hear more about them in this short video:
Each soundscape has been tailored to meet the needs of our beneficiaries.
Not only will you be able to access the soundscape whilst you use the bench but, by scanning a QR code, you will be able to listen to it at any time – transporting you back to your time with us and a moment that you felt truly relaxed.
A few people have shared their own experiences of using the benches:
One user said: “I use it at least 3 times a week, this is at night-time as I struggle to adjust to sleeping alone, even at 3am I have used it and found that though it doesn’t stop the nightmares or tears, it soothes me enough to be able to go back to sleep.”
Another added: “This is something so innovative, borne from necessity for the extreme pressure and despair that many in our communities live with each day. If it helps to make one life more endurable and worth living it would be extremely valuable, however I believe it will make a life saving difference to many and sure it already has also for us who aren’t aware of our own need for it at this time…..what an incredible comforting provision.”
Have you visited one of our centres? Share your experiences in our Share Your Story group in MyFFC. Register today to join our social space and find groups in the ‘Groups’ tab at the top of the homepage.