Here comes the Baton of Hope - full route and events plan announced!

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A man carrying the Baton of Hope

Baton of Hope campaigners said the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Team’s bid for Kent and Medway to host a day of the 2025 tour “was fantastic”; “it really highlights our mission to stand up to suicide.”

Famous landmarks, firefighters, footballers and Britain’s Got Talent over-40s dance sensation Midlife Movers are among those gearing up to welcome the world’s biggest suicide prevention campaign – the Baton of Hope Tour – when it makes its first visit to Kent and Medway.

More than 130 local residents will take it in turns to carry the campaign’s Olympic-torch style baton through Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury and Thanet on 22 September – the official Kent and Medway leg of the 2025 nationwide Baton of Hope Tour.

Warm-up events on Sunday 21 September will also take place in Folkestone and Sheppey.

To find where you can see the baton in Kent and Medway and join in events, see the full route and events schedule listed below and at www.batonofhopekentandmedway.co.uk/route.

Baton of Hope’s visit to Kent and Medway is supported by a wide range of partners including Kent County Council, Medway Council, NHS Kent and Medway, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Canterbury Christ Church University, Mid-Kent Mind, Maidstone United Football Club and Maidstone Borough Council.

Visit www.batonofhopekentandmedway.co.uk to see everyone who is supporting.

Alice Scutchey - Kent and Medway Baton of Hope Tour coordinator

“Thanks to everyone who is working so hard to make our day of the tour a success”

Alice Scutchey Kent and Medway Baton of Hope Tour coordinator

Alice Scutchey, Kent and Medway Baton of Hope Tour coordinator, said: “Plans around the 22 September are really coming together.

"Thanks to everyone who is working so hard to make our day of the tour a success and help baton bearers and communities remember loved ones, celebrate hope and stand up to suicide stigma.”

In total the Baton of Hope Tour 2025 will visit 20 locations around the country - starting in Blackpool on 1 September and ending in Wrexham on 4 October ahead of a finale in Westminster, London, on 10 October.

Midlife Movers will be helping bring the Kent and Medway leg of the Baton of Hope Tour to a celebratory end at the ‘Evening of Hope’ at Margate’s Dreamland.

Midlife Movers on the BGT stage in their hallmark pink tops

Midlife Movers are among a host of performers set to bring the baton's visit to Kent and Medway to a brilliant end at Hall by the Sea, Dreamland, on the 22 September

Launched by Sandwich-based Debs Forsyth in 2022, the dance group is made up of members of over-40s dance classes from across east Kent - and they took the stage by storm at last year's Britain's Got Talent auditions.

Debs, who lost her former brother-in-law to suicide in 2023, said: "Suicide, particularly the way it affects men, is something I feel so strongly about. Buck was a brilliant person, fun and glorious to be around. None of us knew how he was feeling and it is such a huge thing when they go.

"We're really looking forward to being a part of the Baton of Hope. We're seeing if we can get 80 of us on the stage to perform an 11-minute disco medley.

"Our youngest dancer will be 41 and an oldest will be 86 - mums, nans and great nans looking to remind people you're not alone, don't suffer in silence and there's always hope."

KENT AND MEDWAY BATON OF HOPE TOUR, 22 SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE

Medway leg

  • 9am: Welcome arrival of the baton to MidKent College and Glassbox Theatre. Official tour opening speech from Baton of Hope founder Mike McCarthy.
  • 9.30 - 10.30am: The baton is carried through Great Lines Park into University Campus to Chatham Maritime Marina.
  • 10.30 - 10.55am: The baton boards Kent Fire and Rescue Service launch speed boat at Marina Jetty and heads up River Medway to Rochester Esplanade.
  • 11.00 - 11.40am: The baton is taken off the boat and carried into the High Street and on to Rochester Castle Garden grounds and Rochester Cathedral. Music, zumba and wellbeing activities continue in castle grounds area until 1.30pm.

Maidstone leg

  • 11:40am: The baton leaves Medway and is taken to Maidstone Football Club (FC).
  • Noon -12.30pm: The baton is greeted by players on the pitch during a break of Maidstone United FC’s School Tournament.
  • 12.30 – 1pm: The baton is carried to County Hall where it will be met by public health leaders.
  • 1 - 1.30pm: The baton is carried along Week Street and Gabriels Hill.
  • 1.30 - 2pm: Samba drummers walk with baton bearers along Mote Avenue into Mote Park to join the family fun ‘Hope in the Park’ event that will be happening between 10am-2pm.

Canterbury leg

  • 2.15 - 3pm: The baton is taken to Canterbury, arriving at the Queningate Car Park.
  • 3 - 3.30pm: The baton is carried through south Canterbury to join the ‘Together for Hope’ event at Canterbury Christ Church University’s Augustine House.
  • 4.30 - 5.15pm: After a speech by award-winning mental health campaigner Ben West, the baton leaves Augustine House and makes its way through central Canterbury, finishing at Canterbury Safe Haven.

Thanet leg

  • 5.15pm: The Community Driving School takes the baton by car to Margate.
  • 6.10pm: Starting at Nayland Rock Shelter the baton is accompanied by a marching band along the seafront, pausing at Margate Steps and the Turner Contemporary before heading along the Harbour Arm, then back into Margate’s Old Town for 'Afternoon of Hope' event that will already be in full swing.
  • 6.55pm: The baton makes its final journey of the day, from Old Town to Dreamland.
  • 7.30pm: The day ends with the ‘Evening of Hope’ finale.  Acts will include Britain’s Got Talent’s dance group Midlife Movers‘ and World Slam Poetry Champion Harry Baker. Book your tickets here: An Evening of Hope at Dreamland Margate.