Problema 3 · Inglés PAU Madrid Ordinaria (2ª lengua) 2026

A Park Bench with an Address

In an unusual move that highlights British attention to detail, a park bench in Portland Square, Bristol, has been officially given an address—complete with its own postcode. This is not a silly gesture done by children, but a practical solution initiated by Bristol’s local health authority. The decision was made to help six homeless individuals who regularly sleep on the bench to have access to free medical care.

In Britain, registering for healthcare typically requires a fixed address, which many homeless people lack. By assigning an address to the bench, the health authority created a way for these individuals to qualify for treatment. As reported in The Indian Express, this act of compassion ensures that people who sleep outside are not excluded from essential services. Tony Palmer, manager of a local clinic that looks after many homeless patients, supports the initiative. “Homeless people are never turned away,” he explains, “but the invented address allows us to give rough sleepers better care.” While the bench is centrally located, it is not exactly a desirable residence. Still, public interest in the bench has grown since the announcement.

Homelessness remains a serious issue in Britain. Many people live on the streets, surviving with few possessions and asking for money or looking for food in trash. London, despite its wealth and glamour, has the highest concentration of homeless individuals in the country. The problem has even caused cultural responses—pop singer Phil Collins once wrote Another Day in Paradise to draw attention to the difficult situation of the homeless in London.

This situation is particularly troubling given that Britain is a welfare state. The government is expected to provide basic necessities such as free healthcare, education and housing. Yet the presence of so many homeless people suggests that the system is not working as effectively as it should. Still, the gesture of giving a park bench an address is a touching example of local authorities trying to make a difference. It shows a desire to adapt the system to meet real human needs. Perhaps this small act will inspire similar efforts in other countries, reminding us that even modest changes can have a meaningful impact.

Adapted from Brishti Bandyopadhayay’s “This Park Bench Has An Address.” Pitara. <https://www.pitara.com/news-for-kids/world-news/this-park-bench-has-an-address/?story=138>

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