Charity, Baton of Hope is dedicated to suicide awareness and prevention and has revealed that it will hold a tour across the UK in one of its most ambitious projects to date and has been supported by global leader in smart and sustainable mobility – Alstom.
The Baton of Hope tour got underway yesterday (25th of June) in Glasgow and will finish in London on Thursday the 6th of July and will see the Baton carried by volunteers affected by suicide.
The Alstom Community Project Fund has provided funding to the charity with staff members given the chance to volunteer across the campaign in order to support its vital message.
The fund was created to support projects local to the communities Alstom serves and represent the company's Community Investment Policy aims of:
- Meeting social needs
- Supporting education
- Cultivating local enterprises
- Protecting the environment.
Baton of Hope was created by Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip, following the death of their sons, Ross and Jordan, to suicide. The charity is focused on bringing not only awareness but also to offer support to those having difficulties with their mental health and the risk of suicide. Baton of Hope also aims to encourage the UK government alongside public institutions to take on progressive initiatives in the name of suicide prevention.
Every day, 18 people are lost to suicide, which marks the biggest killer for men aged under 35 despite women making more suicide attempts.
2019 saw a research project undertaken which estimates that almost 135 people are touched by suicide each day.
Nick Crossfield, Managing Director of Alstom UK & Ireland said:
“Alstom is proud to be supporting the planning and delivery of the biggest suicide awareness and prevention initiative the UK has ever seen – Baton of Hope – through the Alstom Community Project Fund. Opening up the conversation about suicide in our professional and personal networks and wider communities is key to helping remove the stigma around mental health – and being able to direct people to the right help early on.”
To find out more about Baton of Hope, please click here.
