A community initiative in Richmond which invites residents and visitors to ‘take a seat’ is now supporting more than 320 people every week.
The scheme, which provides free resting points inside participating businesses, has grown steadily since its launch and is now supported by more than 50 local shops, cafés and venues.
The initiative was introduced by local care company Home Instead and supported by Richmond Town Council
Robbie Jones, from Home Instead, said awareness of the initiative had continued to rise as more residents and visitors made use of the network of seating locations.
“Take a Seat has been a big hit with locals and visitors alike,” he said.
“People are using it in greater numbers as awareness grows of the regular resting places that are offered by over 50 businesses around town.”
A recent community survey conducted by the scheme found overwhelmingly positive feedback from participating businesses, which highlighted the impact on accessibility in the town centre.
The survey invited all participating businesses to share their experiences and suggestions, with 35 responding.
Organisers said 28 of those businesses reported that members of the public regularly used the seats and found them beneficial.
At the Georgian Theatre Royal, front of house manager Paul Gilpin said the seat had become a valued resource for visitors.
“Our staff even make phone calls to arrange a lift home for some people,” he said.
“Coast to Coast walkers have stopped to use the seat as well. It really is a great initiative for the town.”
Other businesses also highlighted the scheme’s impact. Helen Newall, owner of The Little Dress Shop, said the initiative had helped improve accessibility for visitors who need a rest while shopping or exploring the town.
Richmond’s smallest shop, Antique Haven, also reported regular use of its seating space, particularly by visitors walking up the hill into the town centre.
Scheme organisers met recently at Edwina’s Café to review the survey results, alongside town councillors including Clive World and Libby Sands.
Cllr Sands said the feedback showed strong community backing for the project and highlighted its value in supporting accessibility.
Organisers say they are now looking at potential future improvements and expansion, and have committed to continuing to gather feedback from participating businesses and the wider community.
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This is a great scheme, when I was a child all the shops had chairs for customers, and shop owners would help people to their cars with shopping. Then we went self service, and now it’s going back round, not quite full circle because of course shops would need more staff to fulfil that job. Hard to believe that we have age groups that have never experienced a chair to sit on in a shop, and I don’t think I’m that old? Suppose I am at 67 how times fly, but both my parents had businesses so I grew up with it.
Excellent scheme!