With the rising number of suicides in the country due to everything from bullying, social media peer pressure to economic conditions to family issues etc. it is the intention of JB Judo Saxmundham Judo Club, to provide the funding for two illuminated mental health support park benches to the community of Saxmundham in Suffolk.

In collaboration with the charity Legend On The Bench; who have already provided several benches of this nature in the UK, with more planned: the Judo club Captain (Colin Merryweather) has chosen to make his target for community during his tenure; to provide funding for two of these benches in the town.

Within a growing area of young families, where there are few activities or employment opportunities; it was felt that the risk of potential mental health and suicide was probably a growing risk.

With the funding already achieved by the Judo Club to allow the purchase of a defibrillator for the community; to which final planning permission etc sits with the town council: it was decided to push ahead with a series of fundraising events and activities to target the provision of two benches in the town: the location of which will be agreed once the target is met.

The Judo club have planned on 22nd June 2024, a coastal sponsored trek of around 25 miles; taking in some of the amazing scenery if the Suffolk Heritage Coast; but also potentially secluded areas where people with mental health issues etc. may roam to be alone.

The charity Legend On The Bench has been formed by a group of people where family mental health issues and suicide has touched them. The charity boasts such high profile ambassadors as former Spurs players Micky Hazard: who’s nephew tragically took his own life and sparked the birth of Legend On The Bench: and Spurs and World Cup winner, Ossie Ardiles.

The specialism of these park benches is in their content: including solar lighting so that a person in need can sit at the bench in the light at night: contact information and direction to support groups via QR codes, to allow a person to make contact with a sympathetic and friendly voice at various charitable support groups in their moment of need.

JB Judo Saxmundham Judo Club, is a recreational judo club which provides Judo to the full range of age groups in the community; the youngest members being only 3 years old to the oldest at 86; the senior citizens undertaking specialist safety training using Judo techniques; showing them how to reduce the impact of falling.

So with this in mind, the Judo Club has a wide impact on the community; with its members not only coming to learn the art and sport of Judo, but also with the mindset of giving something back to the community it believes it understands.

If the funding of these two proposed benches saves just one person from the tragedy of suicide; it will have done its job.

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