Call for Baton Bearers to support suicide prevention relay
People across South Yorkshire with lived experience of suicide are being invited to become Baton Bearers when the UK’s biggest suicide awareness and prevention initiative arrives in Sheffield next year.
The Baton of Hope UK relay will visit Sheffield on Tuesday 21st September 2027, as part of a 40-day journey across 21 locations, bringing communities together to raise awareness of suicide prevention and mental health.
The Baton of Hope sees specially selected Baton Bearers carry a large baton before passing it on to the next person. Sheffield was one of 12 UK cities to host the inaugural Baton of Hope tour in 2023.
Martin McKervey, patron of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation and director at AESSEAL, has supported Hope Sheffield for the past four years.
SYCF patron Martin McKervey is appealing for Baton Bearers
He is encouraging people across the region to get involved in the relay.
This event is about life and hope. The relay aims to bring people together through a shared message of remembrance and solidarity, helping to break down stigma and remind people that they are not alone.
“Becoming a Baton Bearer is an opportunity to give a personal story a public voice. Each bearer has their own reason for taking part, whether that be honouring someone’s memory or standing alongside others affected by suicide.”
Applications to become a Baton Bearer are open until 31 January 2027.