www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/1426504-When-you-need-a-RL-friend?pg=2
This thread gives historic info.
Now that MNHQ have launched the lovely all
Singing/all dancing shiny new Local Boards, its very easy to find and sit on the friendship bench
I just wanted to remind everyone that it's there for anyone ANYWHERE in need of a friend. You don't have be 'in need' to sit on it - you can just lurk on there in case someone in your area turns up looking for a RL shoulder.
So many times on MN, especially on the relationships boards, posters have had amazing support and been offered warmth and wisdom, but have been lacking a single RL person to bolster them up. The friendship bench is somewhere we can encourage people to go to find such a person. Sometimes tea, cake and a RL person to eat it with can be all you need to take a final decisive step/stop you feeling completely isolated/get your head straight.
But this will only work if as well as directing people to he bench, we check our local
Boards from time to time to see if anyone is sat on the bench hoping someone will come
along.
I know it seems like a big ask - taking on a strangers problems when lives are full and stressful, but in he time it takes to meet someone in a local cafe, you could make a real difference. It doesn't have to be a long term 'commitment' - just a friendly hand being held out.
I can think of a few posts where a RL meet with a MNer made a world of difference to the OP and the friendship bench is just a tool
for facilitating that more easily.
I know it won't be for everyone but I thought a timely reminder now that the new Local boards are launching wouldn't go a miss.