For the promotion of series 3 of Ricky Gervais’ show After Life on Netflix, 25 “benches of hope” were placed across the UK to encourage people to sit down and gather their own thoughts or share them with others.
One of these benches is in Highgate and we recently went to visit it. After Life is a television programme about bereavement and death, and the main character Tony, played by Ricky Gervais, is often seen sitting on a bench in the churchyard where his wife is buried.
The benches of installed across the country in places such as Highgate each have the words “Hope Is Everything” etched into them and bring attention to the charity, CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) via a QR code plaque so that people can easily find emotional support should they need it. CALM is taking a stand against suicide by provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together so they reject living miserably, get help when they need it and don’t die by suicide.
When these benches were first announced, Gervais said, “We hope the benches will create a lasting legacy for After Life, as well as become a place for people to visit.” And they are. It is quite incredible that now, even now the show has ended, the benches are still here, providing assistance and perhaps even saving lives 
What3Words will help you to find your nearest After Life bench, here.
