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Monday 18 Jan 2021

Leeds station showcases new artwork and lights up green and blue in support of annual Brew Monday campaign

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Eastern

| Eastern: North & East

• Network Rail has partnered with the Samaritans to promote annual Brew Monday campaign
• Charlie Mackesy, author of the smash hit The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, has also got involved this year to encourage people to reach out over a virtual cuppa and chat to those they care about during the winter months
• Charlie has created a bespoke animated illustration, which will be featured across Network Rail stations, including Leeds, from today (Monday, 18 January)
• Leeds station historic dark arches also lit up green and blue to support the initiative

Today may be ‘Blue Monday’ – thought to be the most difficult day of the year – but Samaritans’ ‘Brew Monday’ campaign, supported by Network Rail and the wider rail industry, aims to raise spirits by harnessing the uplifting power of a good brew and a chat.

In a bid to beat the winter blues and after a challenging year for all, award-winning author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy is getting on board by creating an exclusive animated illustration to encourage rail passengers and staff to reach out to someone they care about and connect over a virtual cuppa this winter.

It comes as new online research from Samaritans has found that speaking regularly to friends and family on the phone or on video calls over the last year had a positive effect on most people’s mental wellbeing (58%). Of these, helping people keep in contact with loved ones (79%), feeling less isolated (59%) and improving their mood (54%) were all highlighted as reasons for keeping in touch.

To help ensure fewer people struggle alone, Samaritans is kicking off Brew Monday today, the third Monday in January, which is thought to be the most difficult day of the year.

Turning the day on its head and into something positive, Charlie Mackesy has donated an uplifting drawing from his international bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, whose drawings and words of hope have brought comfort to many this year. Charlie has penned a new special message for Brew Monday in the donated illustration as the Mole asks a slice of cake, “Can I share you with a friend?”

The artwork will be displayed at Leeds station from today, and the station’s historic dark arches will also be lit up green and blue, the colour of the Samaritans charity and to acknowledge Blue Monday, to support the initiative.  Whilst the current pandemic restrictions mean that Samaritans volunteers can’t be at stations talking to passengers about the importance of staying connected this Brew Monday, the illustration will be displayed across Network Rail station’s digital screens, highlighting the power of human connection to inspire passengers instead. 

Network Rail workers will also be holding virtual Brew Monday events to check in on their colleagues, friends and family members that they can’t be with, to stay connected this winter.

Nick Cooper, Station Manager for Network Rail at Leeds, said: “This year, it’s more important than ever that we make time to take care of ourselves and check in on each other.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve had to change how we support Brew Monday, however, we’ll still be raising awareness through lighting up our arches and displaying the new artwork on our screens, to help encourage our passengers and workers to speak up if they’re struggling.”

Julie Bentley, Samaritans’ CEO, said: “We’re so grateful to Network Rail and the rail industry for their support of Brew Monday this year. The challenges that many people face during this season have been felt even more acutely this year with the pandemic restrictions. At Samaritans, we know how powerful talking and listening, even if it is virtually, can be. It doesn’t have to be a Monday or a cup of tea, it’s about taking the time to really listen and supporting one another, which could potentially save a life.”

Brew Monday support comes as part of the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme. Samaritans has worked in partnership with Network Rail, on behalf of the rail industry, to reduce suicides on the railway for over 10 years, having trained over 22,000 rail and BTP staff to look out for passengers and make conversation if they feel someone might be vulnerable.

Find out more at samaritans.org/brewmonday or join the conversation on social media using #BrewMonday and why not make a donation while you’re there, you could help save a life.  Charlie’s illustration is also available to buy on a pin badge from Samaritans’ online shop.

ENDS