Media centre

Monday 17 Jan 2022

Volunteers at North West railway stations for Brew Monday cuppa

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: North West

Samaritans volunteers will be at railway stations across the North West this week as part of the charity’s Brew Monday campaign.

Network Rail is once again joining the effort to encourage passengers and rail staff to share a cuppa and a catch up with someone they care about.

Whilst the third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’, the charity is highlighting that there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ as people can feel a range of emotions any day of the year.

Although winter is thought to be one of the harder seasons with dark days and frosty nights, Samaritans volunteers hear similar concerns all year round from those that contact the charity.

The main concerns include mental health and illness (46%), family (34%) and loneliness (28%)*.

So from today (Monday 17 January) Samaritans volunteers will be at a number of stations across the North West, including Preston, Stockport and Macclesfield, offering teabags and talking to passengers about the importance of reaching out and talking.

A larger awareness event is also taking place at Liverpool Lime Street station this Friday (21 January).

Paul Spiers, Liverpool Lime Street station manager, said: “We’re really proud to be supporting Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign again this year and spreading this important message to our passengers. Samaritans has worked in partnership with Network Rail and the wider rail industry for over 10 years encouraging the public and our staff to recognise the power of human connection and start a conversation which could save a life. So, we’re putting that into practice this Brew Monday and this coming Friday at the station by saying -out with the blue and in with the brew!”

Julie Bentley, Samaritans’ CEO, said: “We’re so grateful to the rail industry for their support of Brew Monday again this year. Throughout the various lockdowns and restrictions, the pandemic has shown us that staying connected with others has been a vital part of getting people through difficult times. We know the impact talking and listening can have, and a cup of tea and a chat won’t solve everything, but it can be a start. You don’t have to have all the answers or solutions, you just need to listen and start a conversation which could just be the support that someone needs.”

The Brew Monday support comes as part of the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme and partnership with Network Rail.

Samaritans has worked in partnership with the rail industry and British Transport Police to reduce suicides on the railway for over 10 years, having trained over 24,000 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.