Farming community invited to take part in Baton of Hope tour
11th August 2025
The Baton of Hope, created to inspire hope and drive action in suicide prevention, will be carried through Norwich for the first time next month as part of a UK-wide movement.
Farming community has been invited to the Norfolk Showground for the Baton of Hope Norwich Tour25 opening ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, 17th September.
The organisers explained that this landmark tour aims to ignite the biggest ever conversation about suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and the urgent need for change. “Every life lost to suicide is one too many,” they added.
To launch this important day of mental health awareness with the farming and rural community, the Baton of Hope will arrive at the Norfolk Showground at 8am with charity founder Mike McCarthy, where it will be received by Lady Dannatt, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, before beginning its journey through Norwich.
“We are encouraging the farming and rural community to join us from 8am to show unity and support for mental health in rural communities.
“There will be free tea and coffee plus bacon rolls on arrival, courtesy of Norfolk Food Hall,” the organisers added.
‘Every suicide leaves families, friends and communities shattered by loss’
Designed by renowned goldsmiths Thomas Lyte, official silversmiths to the FA Cup, the Baton of Hope has been described as a mental health counterpart to the Olympic torch. It will be passed between more than 40 baton bearers as it travels through the city, stopping at key landmarks and community spaces.
The event is being led locally by Norwich Samaritans, working in collaboration with local charities and businesses.
Jane Brown, director of Norwich Samaritans, said: “We’re honoured to host the Baton of Hope and help shine a light on such an important issue. Every suicide leaves families, friends, and communities shattered by the loss. We believe this will be a landmark moment for mental health awareness in Norwich.
“Our commitment to suicide prevention in the city is long-term and deeply rooted. The Baton of Hope tour is a powerful and moving expression of the strength of feeling across our community—a shared determination to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide. Above all, it reminds us that no one is ever truly alone. Help is out there, and hope is always within reach.”
The Baton of Hope charity was founded by families bereaved by suicide and aims to deliver the UK’s biggest-ever suicide prevention campaign. With suicide remaining the leading cause of death among men under 50 and young people aged between 20 and 34, organisers say the baton’s journey is both a call to action and a message of solidarity.
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