Baton of Hope

This article discusses sensitive topics including suicide

The UK’s largest suicide prevention initiative, Baton of Hope, will be coming to the Isle of Sheppey next month, along with support and advice.

Swale Borough Council have teamed up with the Medway & Swale Health and Care Partnership and a variety of local partners to host a baton pass event on 21 September ahead of a tour around Kent and Medway.

Eight teams will join the Mayor of Swale in carrying the baton in a relay, leaving from EKC Secondary School at 1pm, moving along the seafront to the Shingle Bank and back.

The teams taking part are NexYouth CIC, KCC’s Gypsy, Roma and Travellers Project Team, HMP Elmley, Oasis Youth and Community Hub, KFRS, We Are With You, Kier and HMS Legacy.

The baton will arrive back at the school at around 2:30pm where a charity village will be available to offer people support.

The village, open from 1pm, will feature a variety of community stalls providing information and advice, along with refreshments from EKC’s Dementia Café, and entertainment.

The organisations available to offer advice and support are:

• Sheppey Matters
• Kent Talking Therapies
• NexYouth CIC
• Citizens Advice Swale
• Oasis Youth and Community Hub
• Kent Community Health NHS Trust
• Wave Community Bank
• Kent and Medway NHS Talking Therapies
• Sports Connect CIC
• Sheerness Salvation Army
• Sheppey FM
• Seashells Children & Families Centre
• Kier
• Kent County Council, Public Health
• MenTalk Health
• Southern Water
• EKC Dementia Café

The relay baton, a beautifully and intricately designed symbol of hope, travels across the UK each year to create unity within the suicide prevention community.

The events aim to help raise awareness of suicide prevention support; call out suicide stigma; and celebrate absent loved ones, as well as those who have been able to find hope and stay with us.

Cllr Hannah Perkin, chair of the Housing, Health and Communities Committee said:

“The Baton of Hope is an amazing project, bringing together people who work to prevent suicide and those touched by suicide, while starting an open conversation around this difficult subject.

“Thank you to everyone who is helping to make this event possible, the charities and baton bearer teams are helping us tackle stigma and create awareness around the support that is available.

“It is a symbol of hope that those that are struggling can find the strength to ask for help and be supported to recover, and an opportunity to cherish the memories of those that we have lost.

“We want to show people they aren’t alone, and that support is available, while bringing the organisations together to make that support more accessible.

“If you need help - whether you are struggling with your health and wellbeing or with the cost of living - you can visit our charity village where amazing organisations will be stationed to offer advice and practical support.”

Alice Scutchey, Project Lead for Baton of Hope Kent & Medway, said:

"On the 21 September, we will be shining a light on the local charities and mental health support services in Sheppey.

“Passed from hand to hand, the Baton of Hope carries the strength of many hearts - we will remember those we have lost to suicide and be reminding people that they are not alone.  

“I'd like to say a huge thanks to the Sheppey working group who’ve worked so hard to bring this event to life. It will be a meaningful day, made possible by their compassion, commitment, and belief in hope."

If you need support with your mental health:

• For support and information visit: www.kmhealthandcare.uk/mental-wellbeing-information-hub
• Or call Release The Pressure Helpline - Kent Phone number 0800 107 0160 open 24hrs
• If you need urgent help, call 111 and select the mental health option, or call 999 immediately if someone’s life is at risk.
• Bereaved by suicide? Reach out to www.amparo.org.uk
• You can also get free training to build confidence talking about difficult emotions and needing mental health support - www.midkentmind.org.uk/training