Baton of Hope Tour to visit Bristol to raise awareness of nationwide suicide prevention initiative

The Baton of Hope aims to be the biggest suicide prevention initiative in the UK. A nationwide tour of the Baton, its iconic physical symbol of hope for those affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts, will visit Bristol on Sunday 2^nd July. The Baton will visit key areas of the city including the SS Great Britain, UWE Bristol, Ashton Estate and Ashton Gate. Baton bearers will include charity volunteers, those with lived experience of mental ill health and those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Bristol: The Baton of Hope, the biggest suicide prevention initiative the UK has ever seen, will visit Bristol in July on the first ever tour of its kind.

Highlighting the suicide crisis that sees 17 people take their own lives every day, the charity’s Baton, its iconic physical symbol, will embark on a tour of 12 cities across the UK, starting in Glasgow on Sunday 25^th June and culminating in a trip to Downing Street on Thursday 6^th July. The Baton will bring a unifying message of hope to the thousands of people across the country that are suffering as a result of suicide bereavement or personal mental ill health, visiting Bristol on Sunday 2^nd July. A unique and magnificent piece, the Baton has been made by Thomas Lyte, goldsmiths and silversmiths to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and makers of the Emirates FA Cup and Rugby World Cup’s Webb Ellis Trophy.

Throughout the tour, the Baton will be carried by notable personalities, those with lived experience of mental ill health, and people with their own inspiring stories of hope. This includes charity ambassadors and supporters Dr Alex George, the UK Youth Mental Health Ambassador, Sheffield Wednesday and Wales midfielder Will Vaulks, and Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim. In Bristol, Baton bearers will include charity volunteers, those with lived experience of mental ill health and those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Project lead for the Bristol leg is Clare Kemp, founder of charity Hope Against Suicide. Clare’s experiences of her own traumatic event resulting in feelings of hopelessness, as well as the tragedy of losing friends to suicide, have made her determined to help those who have lost hope, to rediscover it. With her passion now lying in helping people, Hope Against Suicide was set up to get the community talking again, to improve mental health. The charity funds Community Mental Health Responders, all volunteers trained in Mental Health First Aid, who actively walk the built-up areas of Bristol, offering a supportive listening ear, with an option of further signposting and advocacy support if required.

Clare says, “No matter how difficult it may seem at first to have a conversation, it can go a long way to helping build hope back up, and this is exactly what the Baton of Hope does. It encourages these conversations, it calls for the necessary changes, and it breaks down barriers, all the while being an important reminder of those we’ve already lost.”

Baton bearers across the UK will be holding the Baton in memory of loved ones lost by suicide, including Saskia Konynenburg, who lost her brother Fred to suicide in 2021. Saskia says, “For families bereaved by suicide, the only glimmer of light is the chance to prevent others from feeling the same grief. The Baton of Hope is important, not only to recognise those lost, but to offer hope to people who may be in crisis.

The Baton’s day will start at 10:00 on the SS Great Britain, where the Director of public health, Christina Grey, will acknowledge the Baton bearers and the loss they have suffered. From there, the Baton will head to the Bedminster Cricket Ground, where there will be representatives of the emergency services speaking on suicide awareness and prevention.

Moving onto the Bower Ashton Campus, the University of the West of England Bristol will host a memorial photo gallery of those who have lost lives to suicide. At midday, the baton will arrive at Ashton Court Estate, where NHS Talking Therapies will share how they can offer support. The tour will continue through Ashton Court Estate stopping at The Reflection Garden, as a poignant location for Baton bearers, both adults and children, to collect their thoughts and express messages of hope, accompanied by music played by artists from the BIMM Institute. Finally, at 14:45, the Baton will arrive at Ashton Gate Stadium, where a finale tentpole event will include expressions of hope, of art, music, and dance, with guest speakers and reflective moments. All are welcome to join the tour and full details of the route can be found here: https://batonofhopeuk.org/the-tour/bristol-route/.

The Baton of Hope was co-founded by Mike McCarthy, whose son Ross battled depression for a decade before taking his own life in 2021. Ross left behind a young son, a fiancée, and a heartfelt request that his family campaign for better mental health support and Mike is committed to honouring this final wish through the charity.

Mike adds, “The significance of this event cannot be overestimated. For the first time, a physical symbol that can be passed from bearer to bearer – from sufferer to sufferer – is spreading a message that we needn’t struggle alone.

“I am deeply moved and humbled to see truly inspirational people from across the country carry this baton as a symbol of compassion, hope and responsibility. ‘Responsibility’ because everyone of us can play a part in tackling the challenges presented by suicide. For too long, the stigma associated with having the conversations that we so desperately need to have has taken those closest to us. We have a huge mountain to climb in breaking this stigma, raising awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing and re-calibrating our approach to the societal catastrophe created by suicide, but the Baton of Hope Tour marks the start of positive change.”

In less than a year since the Baton of Hope’s inception, it has achieved staggering traction. Over 120 MPs have already pledged to support the charity in its vision of a zero suicide society, such as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who recently commended the charity’s work during Prime Minister’s Questions. A number of major organisations have also come on board as sponsors, including Alstom, Savills, Starbucks, TFL and Westfield Health.

The Baton of Hope Tour is an entirely non-profit initiative, with all donations going to spreading a message of hope to all those affected by suicide or mental ill health. Please support the Tour by visiting: https://batonofhopeuk.org/.