Since early November, the established Chemnitz listening bench has moved its location to the foyer of the Tietz The initiative Omas gegen Rechts is thus continuing its offer of conversation regardless of the weather: on Wednesdays from 2 to 4 pm, volunteers take a seat in one of two red armchairs and listen. The aim remains to provide an accessible service for people looking for someone to listen to them – without offering advice, diagnosis or intervention.
The organisers cite the weather during the colder months as the reason for moving indoors. The foyer offers step-free access, seating and shelter from the cold. Those involved have not set a firm end date. They say they will return to the original location at the Rosenhof when the weather is suitable.
The listening bench was first set up at the Rosenhof in May 2026. According to the initiative, the idea came about because people at information stalls repeatedly expressed a wish for informal conversation. The initiative is specifically aimed at people who want to talk or counter loneliness. The roles are clearly defined: volunteers listen, give people space and, if necessary, guide the conversation; they do not take on therapeutic or official duties.
Similar services can be found across Germany in various forms. Experiences from cities such as Zwickau as well as from the and the North Saxony district show that the organisations running them and the way they are set up vary: in some places, volunteers organise chat or listening benches, while elsewhere welfare organisations coordinate them. Hours of operation are often planned seasonally, with services moved indoors when it gets cold. Other differences include the listeners’ qualifications, the locations – from parks to community halls – and the way the service is structured.
For the city of Chemnitz and the Tietz, the winter arrangement mainly means organisational support: the rooms are open to the public, and the service remains visible and accessible. Figures on use to date, visitor numbers or any systematic evaluation of the service are not currently available. The information has been collated from statements by the initiative involved and reports in regional media. No forecasts about how demand may develop can be drawn from this; as with comparable projects, however, demand is likely to fluctuate depending on the weather and circumstances.
The core of the format therefore remains unchanged: a clearly scheduled presence in a public space – currently in the foyer – and a promise to listen, with no conditions and no need to book in advance.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).