Empty Chairs loneliness project launches in Jersey

A project aimed at tackling loneliness by leaving seats free next to people in pubs to encourage strangers to talk to each other has been rolled out in Jersey.

Empty Chairs has a simple concept: book a table at a pub, wear something orange and leave seats vacant for people to sit down and have a chat.

The initiative was started by Dean Perryman from Essex who reserved tables at a pub every day last December for strangers to meet and speak to each other, after his best friend took his own life.

It has since grown in popularity and the first event in Jersey was held at The Threadneedle on 21 April after being organised by David Bennett who became a host soon after finding out about Empty Chairs.

He said he had been inspired by an encounter in the Jersey pub where he hosted the event.

"I popped into The Threadneedle and one of the bartenders there, she just asked me, 'are you okay?' And I said, 'no', straight away and it was just like, it was real," said Mr Bennett.

"Because of that moment I knew that setting up the Empty Chairs here in Jersey was supposed to be a thing."

Three people attended the first event in Jersey, but there are hopes more will join future events which are due to be held every fortnight.

"We don't know what's going through other people's minds and lives and sometimes that one conversation can change their life significantly," said Bennett.

More than 2,000 empty chairs have been filled across the UK since the project began and it has spread to several other countries including Belgium, Canada, Australia, Norway, Switzerland and the United States.

"It's honestly still so surreal to me," said founder Perryman.

"To see that it's resonated with other people has just been incredible."

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