IT’S been a dark 18 months or so for many of us, but in one Powys village a group has come up with a bright idea to add a little colour back into our lives.

The Pontfaen YFC Pitstop is a bench that has been built out of recycled waste materials in the tiny Breconshire community of Merthyr Cynog, where it will act as a focal point and provide a welcome stop for locals or passers-by to rest and reflect on the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on all of us.

The bright purple and green bench – made out of old tyres – has been decorated in the colours of various mental health charity helplines and is part of an initiative created by Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations’ (PAVO), to create a bench to be placed in communities around Powys to be known as ‘Our local Talking Bench’. The project has been taken on by members of Brecknock, Radnor and Montgomeryshire Young Farmers Clubs.

“Our brief was to design and create an original bench that would be a community focal point,” said Pontfaen YFC member Sian Healey.

“We brainstormed our ideas for various designs with recycling of waste materials being the dominant element of our concept. We decided to use old tyres as our main construction material as they are comfortable to sit on and durable when exposed to the elements.

“The Pontfaen YFC Pitstop will provide somewhere for anyone to rest, reflect, to talk to someone or simply just sit and stare into the wide blue yonder. We hope that it will help individuals to mitigate loneliness and isolation by creating interactions and ultimately support and improve mental health for all ages in our community.

“The bench is framed by two handsome planters, each containing stones and pebbles which members have decorated with the contact details of various mental health helplines.”

Many recent mental health awareness campaigns have incorporated purples themes, while the green ribbon is the international symbol for mental health awareness.

Pontfaen YFC Pitstop can be found in Merthyr Cynog, just off the B4520 between Builth Wells and Brecon and near both Upper Chapel and Lower Chapel. It is located on the village green in front of the church.

Sian added: “Feel free to take a seat, engage in a chat and pick up a pebble at your discretion…remember, it’s good to talk.”