People across Leeds are being encouraged to come out and show their support as the Baton of Hope tour passes through the city on World Suicide Prevention Day next week.
The countdown is on for the Leeds leg of the tour on Wednesday (10 September 2025), in what is set to be a poignant and powerful day, as 84 baton bearers – all bereaved or affected by suicide – take turns to carry the symbolic baton along a 24km route stretching from the west side of the city to the east.
The national Baton of Hope tour is calling at 20 places across the UK over two months to raise awareness of suicide and spread the message of hope, with Leeds City Council – together with mental health charities including Touchstone and Leeds Mind – organising the city’s leg.
A map has been created showing key points along the route and everyone is encouraged to come out and greet the baton as it passes by or to walk with the baton bearers to show solidarity and support.
Setting off from Bramley at around 9.15am, the baton travels via Armley, New Wortley and Holbeck, where a performance of Men’s Talk will take place at St Matthew’s Community Centre at 10am. It continues through the city centre, via Leeds Train Station and City Square, and up to Millennium Square for 12.10pm. From the city centre, it travels out east, past St James’s Hospital, through Wykebeck at around 4.45pm and into Gipton for 5.15pm.
This is the first time Leeds has hosted the tour – one of the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiatives, founded by the charity Baton of Hope UK – and an array of events are also taking place to mark the occasion.
Among these is a moving exhibition at Moda, in New York Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds, of artwork, fashion design and poetry by the late Joshua Van Leader, of Leeds.
Joshua, a former Leeds United Academy player who went on to play semi-pro for a team in Atlanta, USA and Adelaide Rangers in Australia, died by suicide in 2022 at the age of 31.
A keen artist and fashion designer, having studied at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Joshua also created and grew his own clothing label, JVL.
Sadly, a series of health problems led to significant mental health challenges and he later returned home to Leeds, where he created an extensive collection of artwork, along with poetry and a colouring-in book aimed at helping others with their mental health.
The exhibition of his work runs at Moda until September 30, alongside a full programme of mental wellbeing events and displays, including the Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt, which is made of memorial squares, each dedicated to loved ones lost to suicide, and will be on show until 19 September.
Joshua’s dad Mark Leader, or Wetherby, said:
“The exhibition intersects Joshua’s art with the ocean and mental health where all three elements combine to represent and showcase the legacy that he has left us.
“With strong connections to suicide prevention, we are delighted that the Baton of Hope will have an exchange within the exhibition space which will also feature the Speak Their Name quilt on this special day.
“We hope the day will inspire as many people as possible and to reach out and provide hope.”
Other events and activities on the day include musical and theatre performances, information stalls, a Mindful Employer network conference themed around suicide prevention in the workplace and a finale event for baton bearers and their supporters in the early evening.
A special song to mark the event has also been recorded by the men’s songwriting group from Being You Leeds, a partnership of third sector organisations which promotes wellbeing. The song, called ‘Here I’m Staying’, is available to listen to online on Bandcamp at barcabylmensgroup.bandcamp.com/track/here-im-staying.
Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, health and wellbeing, said:
“I’m really proud that Leeds is hosting the Baton of Hope tour for the first time this year. It’s been amazing to see so many people getting involved, to come together and share the message of hope.
“Thank you to all our baton bearers for taking part in what will be an incredibly moving and powerful way of raising awareness and breaking stigma around suicide.
“Please do take a look at where the baton passes and show your support by greeting the baton and baton bearers as they walk by.
“Let’s unite as a city to remember the lives sadly lost to suicide and share the message of hope and help-seeking far and wide.”
Hannah Wild, head of crisis services at Touchstone, said:
“Touchstone is honoured to be co-hosting the Baton of Hope in Leeds and inspiring hope across communities.
“Many people we support have been affected by suicide, as have many of our staff, both personally or professionally, so we are passionate to be part of a change towards zero-suicide communities.
“We hope that the Baton of Hope will give people the courage to reach out for support when they need it so that fewer lives are lost to suicide in the future.”
Full details of the Baton of Hope tour in Leeds including a downloadable version of the route, and associated events, can be at www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/baton-of-hope-leeds-2025.
Further links:
- Mindwell is the mental health website for adults in Leeds, with information on mental health wellbeing and support. Visit www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk.
- Mindmate is the mental health website for children, young people and their families in Leeds. Visit mindmate.org.uk
- The Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service helps anyone affected or bereaved by suicide. Visit: www.leedsmind.org.uk/suicide-bereavement-services-west-yorkshire
- The Here For You by Touchstone service is open every day of the year 3pm-9pm in Leeds for face to face support for anyone struggling to cope, or experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm. People can self-refer any day by phone, text, or online. Visit: touchstonesupport.org.uk/hereforyou
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council
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