From Hope to Action
"Hosting the Baton of Hope in Basingstoke was one of the most profound experiences I have ever been part of. It was not just an event; it was a shared act of courage, compassion, and community."
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What the Baton of Hope Means
The Baton of Hope symbolises our collective commitment to ending the silence around suicide.
Connection
Breaking the silence around suicide by bringing people together. Through art and music, powerful speakers and presenters, the moving Speak Their Name quilt, creative displays, stands offering guidance, and countless heartfelt conversations.
Hope
The feedback echoed this sentiment again and again – the most positive part of the day was the community itself. People finding connection, understanding, and above all, hope.
Journey
This day was about life, about hope, and about the fact that together we can make a difference. The Baton continues beyond September 25th through lasting initiatives and community action.
Action
The day became more than an event. It became a space of belonging. At the heart of it all was a simple but powerful truth: "Today is about hope, and it's about standing together to say, 'You are not alone.'"
Listen...
Marie shares the story behind the Baton of Hope Basingstoke.
Marie, our Project Lead, reflects on hosting the Baton of Hope – what we learnt, what changed, and why this work must continue.
Our Why
The Hard Truths We Cannot Ignore
Across the UK
5000
8X
1000s
In Hampshire
15%
3X
18-25
Who Is Most At Risk?
Men | Account for three-quarters of suicides, yet toxic masculinity continues to silence them
Women | Report record levels of self-harm and suicidal thoughts
LGBTQ+ Young People | Twice as likely to attempt suicide
Veterans | Face alarming suicide risks, often hidden behind silence
People Experiencing Homelessness | Several times more likely to die by suicide
SEND Children & Young People | Routinely overlooked, with families battling for years to access basic support
Domestic Violence Survivors | Face trauma that is too often ignored in suicide prevention strategies
Need Support Now?
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You are not alone.
24/7 Crisis Support:
- Samaritans: 116 123
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): 0800 58 58 58
- Papyrus HOPELINEUK: 0800 068 4141
- Shout Crisis Text Line: Text SHOUT to 85258
- NHS Mental Health Crisis: Text SHOUT to 85258 or call 111
See How It Went:
The Uncomfortable Truth
This is not abstract. This is a lived reality.
It’s the friend who has gone quiet, withdrawing from the group chat, and no one knows how to reach them. It’s the colleague struggling with debt, smiling through meetings while wondering how to survive. It’s the teenager scrolling late at night, finding “advice” on forums that glorify harm instead of recovery. It’s the woman hiding bruises under her sleeve, told by society to “move on” instead of being offered safety and support.
It’s also the person who looks completely fine on the outside but inside is carrying shame, convinced they are a burden, thinking that people would be better off without them. It’s the crushing isolation of feeling unseen, unheard, and left behind.
Children are turning to AI chatbots for advice because they cannot get timely help from the system. They are asking machines the questions they are too afraid to ask adults. At the same time, toxic online communities are filling the silence with dangerous messages of self-destruction.
And still, we are told to wait.
That’s not hope.
The Baton of Hope showed what is possible. It’s about talking, about sharing, about having conversations that may feel scary but are absolutely critical.
Building the Legacy
Project Iris: Growing Hope
Therapeutic support combining green and equine therapies, crisis planning, and creative engagement.
Creating safe spaces for healing and growth where people can find support that meets their needs.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Volunteer your time and skills
- Support the project financially
- Refer people who might benefit
Collaborative Community
Building partnerships across individuals, businesses, and civic organisations.
Because prevention requires all of us working together. When organisations, community groups, and individuals unite, we create networks of support that can reach people before crisis point.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Represent your organisation at our events
- Build new partnerships for ongoing collaboration
- Showcase your support services
- Join our community network
Mentoring and Work Placements
Creating pathways for young people into work and personal development.
Offering opportunity alongside support. Because hope is about futures, about possibility, about knowing someone believes in you.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Offer work placements in your organisation
- Become a mentor to a young person
- Provide skills training or workshops
- Create employment pathways
Community Touchpoints
Initiatives like chatty benches and peer support groups to reduce isolation.
Making connections accessible in everyday spaces. Because sometimes the most powerful support happens in informal moments, in familiar places, between people who understand.
How You Can Get Involved:
- Join a peer support group
- Host a community initiative
- Sponsor a chatty bench
- Be part of the conversation in your community
What Hope Really Means
Hope is change. Hope is feeling. Hope is forgiveness. Hope is friendship.
Someone cares. Someone always cares.
The most powerful thing you can do is simply be there. It’s about talking, about sharing, about having conversations that may feel scary but are absolutely critical.
Baton of Hope Basingstoke was unforgettable – a testament to courage, compassion, and community. It was proof that hope can be made visible, that conversations can shift.
But this is not enough. The statistics remind us that hope alone is not enough. Waiting times are too long, needs are rising, and too many voices remain unheard.
Hosting Baton of Hope Basingstoke showed what is possible when people come together with compassion and determination. It proved that hope can be carried forward, not just for a day, but for a future where no one feels alone.
So yes, it was amazing. Yes, there is more to do. And yes, we must be honest about the gaps. But above all, it was proof that hope can be made visible, that conversations can shift, and that together we can carry this hope forward, not just as a memory, but into action.
Listen...
Get In Touch
Contact Us
Ready to help bring hope to Basingstoke? Get in touch with our dedicated team.
Together, we can create a community where everyone feels supported, where no one suffers in silence, and where hope grows. It’s time to continue the conversation.