Discover Matt and Helen, the people behind Our Bench
Our Bench is not just accommodation. It is a family business shaped by lived experience, hospitality roots, and a strong belief in dignity, care and community.
Where we began
Matt and I met in the hospitality industry in 1992. He was a chef, I was a waitress, and from the very beginning we understood what it meant to offer a quality guest experience.
Hospitality was not just about serving food or preparing rooms. It was about anticipating needs, creating comfort, and making people feel genuinely welcome. That foundation still shapes how we run Our Bench today, and reflect our business goal of making a difference, one family, one person at a time.
Helen
My professional background is in childcare. I ran a successful childcare business for over 14 years, specialising in the care of under fives and children with additional needs. I was deeply involved in the local community, supporting families through early years development and complex care needs.
During that time, Matt and I had three children within 17 months. Life was busy, joyful and intense in equal measure.
As our children reached their preteens, I retrained as a photographer and graphic designer during a career break when I was needed in a full time caring role for our eldest child. Creativity became both an outlet and a new professional path.
I had always been involved in the marketing side of Our Bench. Over time, I moved into a formal partnership role and then into managing owner, adapting the business structure so that I could continue caring for our eldest child and my mum when needed.
Today, I am involved in all aspects of the business. From networking and raising awareness of disability within the local community, to welcoming guests and overseeing the day to day experience, I am usually around on changeover days. If you contact us, I am most likely the voice at the end of the phone, the reply in your inbox, or the person answering your social media message.
I am also chief gardener, always tending to the outdoor spaces so they feel calm and welcoming. Out exploring or photographing the local area for our media channels or quietly baking as I continue a family tradition that goes back over four generations of baking cake. Hospitality and home comforts have always gone hand in hand for us.
What I bring to Our Bench
- Understanding of additional needs and family dynamics
- Clear communication and reassurance for first time accessible travellers
- Attention to detail in guest experience and presentation
- Marketing, design and community awareness
- Photography Experience with memories to treasure
- A slice of homemade cake when timing allows
Matt
When Matt is not preparing the cottages, he runs his own business as a kitchen and bathroom fitter, specialising in accessible adaptations.
Through mattrenouf.co.uk, he advises clients on practical changes that make homes safer and more comfortable. This includes grab rails, adjusting toilet heights, shower supports, replacing baths with level access showers, and thoughtful adaptations that support independence, amongst other projects such as kitchen and bathroom renovations.
His work is grounded in real experience. Accessibility is never theoretical for us. It is about how something works in everyday life.
Community and Coastguard
Since 2009, Matt has been an active member of HM Coastguard Lymington. He has been trained in mud rescue, cliff rescue, and search and rescue operations for missing people in the local area.
Coastguard work relies on dynamic risk assessments, teamwork and calm decision making. That mindset carries directly into our business. We assess, prepare and respond carefully.
It also shapes our awareness of initiatives such as the Herbert Protocol, which supports vulnerable people at risk of going missing. Community awareness and preparedness matter to us.
What Matt brings to Our Bench
- Practical problem solving
- Equipment set up and maintenance
- Accessible design expertise
- Calm, measured response to the unexpected
What We Both Believe
Our Bench has grown from lived experience, hospitality roots, caring roles and community involvement.
We believe accessible accommodation should feel dignified, calm and straightforward. We believe in planning well, listening carefully and responding with care.
Most of all, we believe families deserve holidays where they can simply enjoy being together.
What guests think of us
These are genuine, unedited comments from guests who have stayed with us over the past few years. You can read more here: Guest Reviews
“What can we say... it's absolutely amazing. Perfect in every way. The ceiling track hoists make a huge difference. It's the best holiday accommodation we have ever stayed in.”
“Garden Bench was a very well-equipped bungalow... every single thing had been thought about to make the time there as easy and comfortable as possible. Helen and Matt were most helpful.”