The Baton of Hope tour, making its first stop in Leeds on Wednesday, September 10, is a powerful community event to raise awareness and break the stigma around suicide prevention. The tour features 84 baton bearers, each personally affected by suicide, walking a 24-kilometer path through the city, alongside art exhibitions like Joshua Van Leader’s creative legacy at Moda in New York Square and the “Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt,” fostering hope and connection for mental well-being.
What is the Baton of Hope tour in Leeds and how does it promote suicide prevention?
The Baton of Hope tour in Leeds unites the community to raise suicide prevention awareness through a symbolic walk, art exhibitions, performances, and support resources. The event breaks stigma, honors lives lost, and connects people with mental health services and support networks.
The Baton of Hope Tour: Purpose and Routes
On World Suicide Prevention Day, Leeds will serve as a powerful stage for the Baton of Hope tour, an event designed to foster awareness, understanding, and hope regarding suicide prevention. The tour, which started its journey across 20 cities in the UK, is making its highly anticipated stop in Leeds on Wednesday, September 10. Organized in collaboration with Leeds City Council and prominent mental health charities such as Touchstone and Leeds Mind, this initiative aims to rally the community and break the stigma surrounding suicide.
Eighty-four baton bearers, each personally affected by suicide, will participate in carrying the symbolic baton along a 24-kilometer path through Leeds. The route begins at Bramley around 9:15 am and traverses neighborhoods including Armley, New Wortley, Holbeck, before cutting through the bustling city center at Leeds Train Station and City Square. By 12:10 pm, it will reach Millennium Square, and then continue eastward past St James’s Hospital, through Wykebeck at approximately 4:45 pm, finally arriving in Gipton for a 5:15 pm event.
Supporters are encouraged to join this poignant procession by walking alongside the baton bearers or greeting them at key points along the route. A comprehensive map and schedule are available for download at MindWell Leeds, ensuring that everyone can participate and show solidarity. This marks the first time Leeds has hosted the Baton of Hope tour, reinforcing the city’s commitment to mental health awareness and support.
Art, Remembrance, and Community Healing
The Leeds leg of the tour features a touching exhibition at Moda, in New York Square, Quarry Hill. This exhibit showcases the creative legacy of Joshua Van Leader, a Leeds native who lost his life to suicide in 2022 at the age of 31. Joshua’s multi-faceted talents as an artist, fashion designer, and poet are on full display, including pieces from his art collection, selections from his independent clothing label JVL, and a therapeutic coloring book he developed to assist others with their mental health.
The exhibition is open until September 30 and forms a key part of the day’s events. It includes not only Joshua’s creative work but also the “Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt,” a moving memorial comprised of individual squares, each dedicated to someone lost to suicide. This quilt, available for viewing until September 19, stands as a visual testament to remembrance and resilience in the community.
Joshua’s father shared, “The exhibition intersects Joshua’s art with the ocean and mental health where all three elements combine to represent and showcase the legacy that he has left us. We hope the day will inspire as many people as possible and to reach out and provide hope.” The exhibition space also witnesses a baton exchange, further linking art, memory, and the promotion of hope within Leeds.
Events, Performances, and Support Networks
Beyond the symbolic walk and art displays, the day will be marked by a variety of events across Leeds. These include musical and theatrical performances designed to foster community spirit and reflection. A highlight is the public debut of “Here I’m Staying,” a song recorded by the men’s songwriting group from Being You Leeds – a collaborative partnership focused on wellbeing. The song is available for streaming on Bandcamp, and serves as a creative rallying cry for hope and resilience.
Information stalls will be set up throughout the city to provide attendees with resources and guidance on mental health. The Mindful Employer network is hosting a dedicated conference themed around suicide prevention in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of supportive professional environments. The day concludes with a special finale event for baton bearers and their supporters, providing an opportunity for reflection and solidarity.
Hannah Wild, Head of Crisis Services at Touchstone, explained, “Touchstone is honoured to be co-hosting the Baton of Hope in Leeds and inspiring hope across communities. We hope that the Baton of Hope will give people the courage to reach out for support when they need it so that fewer lives are lost to suicide in the future.” These collective activities underscore the city’s multi-pronged approach to fostering hope and connection.
Resources and Ongoing Support in Leeds
A variety of ongoing mental health services and support networks operate throughout Leeds, ensuring that help is always within reach. These include:
- Mindwell Leeds: A comprehensive mental health resource for adults in Leeds, providing information, self-help materials, and links to local support services.
- Mindmate: Dedicated to the mental wellbeing of children, young people, and families, this website offers advice, coping strategies, and local resources.
- Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service: This service supports anyone affected or bereaved by suicide, offering counseling, support groups, and practical assistance.
- Here For You by Touchstone: Open every day from 3 pm to 9 pm, this service provides face-to-face support for anyone experiencing difficulty coping, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm. Self-referral is available via phone, text, or online.
Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, health, and wellbeing, commented, “I’m really proud that Leeds is hosting the Baton of Hope tour for the first time this year. Please do take a look at where the baton passes and show your support by greeting the baton and baton bearers as they walk by. Let’s unite as a city to remember the lives sadly lost to suicide and share the message of hope and help-seeking far and wide.”
The Baton of Hope tour in Leeds stands as a testament to collective action, remembrance, and the ongoing journey to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health challenges and suicide. For full details on the tour, events, and how to participate, visit MindWell Leeds Baton of Hope.
- The Baton of Hope tour, making its first stop in Leeds on Wednesday, September 10, is a community event to raise awareness and break the stigma around suicide prevention.
- Eighty-four baton bearers, each personally affected by suicide, will participate in carrying the symbolic baton along a 24-kilometer path through Leeds.
- The tour features an exhibition at Moda in New York Square showcasing the creative legacy of Joshua Van Leader, an artist who lost his life to suicide, and the “Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt.”
- Beyond the symbolic walk and art displays, the day will be marked by a variety of events across Leeds, including musical performances, information stalls, and a conference on suicide prevention in the workplace.
- Leeds offers various ongoing mental health services and support networks, including Mindwell Leeds, Mindmate, Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service, and Here For You by Touchstone.