A 30-year-old man has been asking people he doesn’t know to sit with him in pubs across the country as part of his ‘Empty Chairs’ campaign. Dean Perryman came up with the idea after his best friend, Rob Clancy, tragically died by suicide at age 29.

Reaching Out to Those in Need

Perryman started heading out to restaurants and pubs wearing a bright orange hoodie to make his presence obvious to anyone choosing to chat with him. Just a few weeks ago, he held his program’s 1000th meet-up in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, featuring about 12 attendees.

Perryman works for team-building game company Chicken Rush and used social media to create interest in the ‘Empty Chair’ idea. The events started in London and Essex before the founder began recruiting volunteers to host them across the U.K. and the rest of the world.

Events have since been planned in Manchester, Bedford, Cambridge, Skegness, Gloucester, Leeds, York, Wrexham, and more. It has also branched out to other countries, including Colombia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

Perryman said lots of people actually return to the events, especially in smaller rural towns, as people create and build friendships that last long afterward. Perryman, who has attended 61 himself, said his favorite part of the events is seeing men open up about their troubles, as he feels they need a safe space to do so.

Some people come because they really want someone to listen to what they have to say, while others come because they have the capacity to be there for someone else. Everyone shares their own story, but it stays at the table.

Perryman said there is no pattern in terms of who shows up. Usually, it’s a diverse group of people. Every Empty Chairs event you go to, you are going to meet people of different walks of life. It is so powerful to show that, no matter who you are, there is a place for you.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.