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Happy to Chat benches

These eye-catching benches serve UCL Astrea, and the whole UCL community, to combat loneliness by providing opportunities to connect with people. They are dedicated to five inspirational women with a personal connection to UCL, who have shaped our world and left a lasting legacy.

Visit one of the benches and post your photos on social media using #UCLHappytoChatBenches

Where to find our benches: 

  • UCL Main Quad
  • IOE - Faculty of Education and Society
  • UCL East
  • Bidborough House

View the launch photos

UCL Astrea's Happy to Chat bench in the Main Quad

About the benches

What are 'Happy to Chat' benches and where have they been installed at UCL? 

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

A leader of women’s rights in medicine and society.

Bernice Lake

Bernice Lake

First woman from the Eastern Caribbean to be appointed Queen's Counsel in 1985.

Kathleen Lonsdale

Kathleen Lonsdale

One of the first two women to become a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Constance Markievicz

Constance Markievicz

First woman elected to the British House of Commons.

Sarah Parker Remond

Sarah Parker Remond

A free-born African-American radical, suffragist, anti-slavery activist and later, a physician.

Sponsors of the Happy to Chat benches


Professor Paola Lettieri, Pro-Provost for UCL East  
Colleagues chatting at the Happy to Chat bench at UCL East

On a sunny but windy afternoon, we sat on the Happy to Chat Bench situated on the terrace of the One Pool Street building to reflect on the opportunities that UCL East brings to our students, the beauty of the park surrounding the campus, and the travel by bike between Bloomsbury and UCL East. With the students now living in the towers upstairs, the Happy Bench is a welcome addition to the students’ living environment created at UCL East.” 

Image L-R: Chris Davison (Venue and Events (Management Education Suite) Administrator), Sam Mardell (Programme Manager) and Professor Paola Lettieri (Pro-Provost, UCL East) at the Happy to Chat bench at UCL East

 

Colleagues chatting at the Happy to Chat bench at Bidborough House
Ian Dancy, Executive Director of Operations, Campus Experience & Infrastructure

“The benches provide a vibrant addition to our campus and provide opportunities for people to chat, with no pressure, during a time when we need to work harder to shape a community. Astrea led the project and put it forward to the PS Conference, championing the importance of both taking time to chat and combating loneliness."

Image L-R: Ian Dancy (Executive Director of Operations, Campus Experience & Infrastructure) and Pip Jackson (Astrea Co-chair and Head of Inclusive Environments) at the Happy to Chat bench in the garden at Bidborough House



Simon Buller, Director of Operations, IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society 
Colleagues chatting at the Happy to Chat bench at the IOE

Image L-R: Natasha Otto (Event Manager) and Simon Buller (Director of Operations) at the Happy to Chat bench at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society concourse - Level 4 

If you've enjoyed reading about and discussing these inspiring women, here are some more campaigns to browse and chat about!