LifeFest was created with one simple mission: to bring people together.

The first ever LifeFest ran at the George and Dragon pub over the 2025 August bank holiday weekend.

It aimed to raise funds to provide benches at all the suicide hotspots around the district, the idea being that each of these benches would have resource information on them providing advice and providing phone numbers of organisations that could help people who are feeling suicidal.

LifeFest was held on behalf of The District Mental Health Forum and a local community group, Adults with Autism at The George & Dragon on St. Georges Quay.

The Forum is made up of around 20 community groups from around the district including Adults with Autism, The Samaritans, various men’s groups, NHS mental health groups and the University mental health team among many others.

The team behind LifeFest presented a cheque for £2330 to Positive Futures after the six-day event, which included live music, a quiz and raffle.

This was enough to provide 5 Hope Benches which are being placed in local suicide hotspots. They contain details of who to contact if people need to talk.

LifeFest 2026 is running from Wednesday 26th of August to Monday 31st of August to raise more money for the District Health Forum to carry on focusing on suicide prevention.

If you can donate, however much you can afford, please do.

Find out more about LifeFest 2026 here.