Carrying the Baton forward in Torbay
In February, we gathered at the Lyceum Theatre to mark a turning point for suicide prevention in Torbay. The event was both a thank you to everyone who carried the Baton of Hope last September and the public launch of what comes next.
A look back on the day
When the Baton of Hope arrived in Torbay last September, it changed the conversation in Torbay around suicide from silence to hope. As the South West’s only stop in the national relay, Torbay became a place where people spoke openly, listened carefully, and walked together with purpose.
- Around 3,000 people engaged across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham
- 50 partner organisations and 100+ volunteers delivered the day
- Nearly 100 local baton bearers represented Torbay’s communities
- £21,000+ raised nationally by Torbay baton bearers
- £9,000+ raised locally to establish the Torbay Suicide Prevention Legacy Grant Fund
- 600+ Torbay Pledges signed by residents, leaders and partners
Thank you!
The February event was a chance to pause and recognise that collective effort. Baton bearers, volunteers, sponsors, emergency services, council teams and community partners were all thanked for making the relay safe, visible and meaningful.
Recognition awards from the Torbay Suicide Prevention Partnership were presented to celebrate leadership, compassion and behind‑the‑scenes commitment.
The Baton of Hope film
The Baton of Hope film premiered and brought the room back to that day – the warmth, honesty and sense of shared purpose. Watch and share the video below:
The Legacy
The Baton of Hope was never meant to be a one‑day event.
As Andrea, a Baton Bearer and a member of the legacy steering group puts it:
‘Hope is not passive- it asks something of us’.
The legacy work now underway turns that idea into action.
Our Torbay Baton of Hope legacy focuses on:
- Peer support led by lived experience, strengthening local networks
- Creative approaches to communication – storytelling, art and film — to challenge stigma
- Early intervention with children, young people, families and schools
- Stronger partnership coordination across services and sectors
- Community grants supporting grassroots, locally led prevention work
This is about embedding suicide prevention into everyday places- homes, schools, workplaces and communities – so people feel safe to say “I’m struggling” and know they’ll be met with empathy, not silence.
Continuing the work together
The Baton of Hope showed what’s possible when Torbay comes together with compassion and courage. The legacy ensures that the conversations started last September continue to spread and save lives.
To get involved or find out more, contact:
[email protected]
Photography by Jack Hannaford-Hill
