Bench aiming to help people during 'tough times' installed in Tottenham

The “suicide prevention bench” is also a memorial to former Love Island presenter and North Londoner Caroline Flack, writes Taro Kaneko

Caroline Flack’s mother Chrissy (right) was at the unveiling of the bench

A charity has installed a bench in Tottenham aiming to “help people through tough times” as part of a memorial to a former Love Island presenter.

The television star Caroline Flack, who took her life in February 2020, is now remembered through the installation of the bench outside Tottenham Community Sports Centre.

Kevin Lincoln, the sport centre’s secretary and a good friend of Caroline’s mother, Chrissy, were among many that attended the unveiling of what the mental health charity Legend On The Bench describes as a “suicide prevention bench” last Friday (27th).

The former Tottenham Hotspur football player Micky Hazard, now ambassador of Legend On The Bench, said: “She was a superstar at the peak of her career, much loved by everybody, yet took her own life.

“Doesn’t matter how rich, poor or known you are. It can happen to anyone of us.”

The bench honours the life of Caroline Flack following her death by suicide in 2020

Legend On The Bench engraved the Enfield-born celebrity’s name on the front of the bench, alongside QR codes linking people’s phone to mental health support websites.

The charity has nine benches across the UK and the bench for Caroline’s family was the charity’s first London installation.

The illuminated bench, powered by solar lighting and a generator, provides support and guidance through a QR code to any passers-by who may experience mental health issues and depression.

According to Haringey Council, between 2013/14 and 2022/23, the number of adult Haringey GP patients with depression increased from 9,424 to 27,246.

Micky said: “There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

“We want to help people through their tough times. Let us turn that I into we.”

Find out more about Legend On The Bench:
Visit legend-on-the-bench.co.uk

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