Luton to host Baton of Hope suicide prevention tour in 2027
Luton will host the Baton of Hope on Saturday, September 4, 2027, as part of a major UK-wide suicide prevention campaign.
The Baton of Hope Tour will return next year, travelling to 21 locations across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man throughout September and October.
Luton is one of the locations selected for the 2027 tour, with communities expected to come together for a day of activities and events when the baton arrives.
The baton will be passed from person to person as a physical symbol of hope and a reminder of the shared responsibility to prevent suicide.
Mike McCarthy, co-founder and chair of The Baton of Hope, said: “This is one of the most difficult subjects to talk about, but the tour is as much about life and hope as it is about death and despair.
“Even if we bring just the smallest glimmer of hope to someone, we have opened a door.”
The 2027 tour will begin on September 1 and is described by the charity as its most ambitious journey to date.
The Baton of Hope was created as a physical symbol of hope and is handcrafted by Thomas Lyte, a Royal Warrant holder as goldsmith and silversmith to King Charles III.
More than 1,000 people took part in the 2025 tour as baton bearers, including celebrities, sports personalities, politicians and members of the public.
Bearers were selected because of their personal experiences of bereavement or the impact of suicide.
The 2027 tour will build on previous tours held in 2023 and 2025, with the charity aiming to raise awareness of suicide prevention and encourage people to have conversations about mental health.
Applications to become a baton bearer for the 2027 tour have also opened, with the charity encouraging people to get involved by supporting events, helping organise activities in their local communities or learning more about suicide prevention.