Lees volunteer to co-ordinate Oldham leg of national suicide-prevention tour
Oldham will be on the map for next year’s Baton of Hope after a Lees community champion was selected to lead the borough’s activities during the 2027 tour. The appointment marks a local step-up for a national movement set up by fathers bereaved by suicide.
Sarah Tate, who runs Sarah’s Community Challenges Project (SCCP), is one of just 20 project leads chosen from a field of 60 applicants following a selection process run by the tour organising committee. The Baton of Hope was established in 2023 and holds tours every two years; it visited neighbouring Tameside in 2025.
The initiative uses a specially designed physical baton and a programme of community events to tackle stigma, unite local groups and promote a zero-suicide message. As project lead for Oldham, Tate will assemble a local committee and oversee everything from the route and safety arrangements to fundraising and volunteer recruitment.
- Number of project leads selected nationally: 20
- Number of applications for project leads: 60
- Next tour year: 2027
The responsibilities being taken on locally are detailed and hands-on. They include arranging the local route, organising water stops and lunches, selecting baton bearers, mobilising volunteers and organising road closures where needed. Each location is expected to handle its own fundraising, meaning Oldham will have to secure sponsors and stage local events to support the tour.
“This is a great opportunity to showcase Oldham in a positive light and a prime chance to raise awareness about mental health,” Tate said. “I didn’t expect the application to be successful but it was! This is a big deal for the borough and everyone we can help.”
The national organisers have welcomed the community engagement the tours generate. Mike McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton of Hope, said the reaction from places visited had been ‘‘warm and positive’’ and thanked those who applied to be project leads, acknowledging the role of grassroots organisers in sustaining the initiative into its third year.
| Key dates | Information |
|---|---|
| Applications open for baton bearers | September 2026 |
| Baton bearer application deadline | 21 January 2027 |
For Oldham residents the announcement presents a chance to get involved in a high-profile community effort focused on mental-health awareness and suicide prevention. Volunteers will be needed for frontline roles on the day of the tour and in the lead-up: organising refreshments, stewarding the route and supporting fundraising initiatives.
Local voluntary and community groups often rely on such civic opportunities to raise awareness and funds, and the Baton’s public profile could help shine a brighter light on Oldham’s community work. The event also brings practical implications: co-ordination with highways and public-safety bodies for any road closures, liaison with local health and support services, and clear planning around safeguarding and volunteer training.
The next step for Tate and her new committee will be to map out a route through Oldham, identify likely baton bearers and start the fundraising drive. With applications for baton bearers set to open in September and close on 21 January 2027, the coming months will be crucial for building the local team and securing partners.
The Baton of Hope’s model is simple but demanding: a visible, community-led relay that starts conversations about suicide and mental health while raising funds for local causes. For Oldham, the appointment of a local project lead from Lees means the town will have a direct hand in shaping how that message is delivered here.
Anyone interested in volunteering or supporting the Oldham leg should watch for local announcements from Sarah’s Community Challenges Project and the national Baton of Hope team when applications and further details are published.
