Edinburgh Route – 26 June 2023

The Baton route and event locations are all subject to local authority approval, and change.

As in other cities, The Baton’s day will likely start with a media moment just before 08:00.

10:00

START Holyrood park

The first Baton-bearer will set out on foot (eastwards) along Queen’s Drive from near St Margaret’s Well. At the first junction, she will hand over to the tractor representing Len’s Light. The tractor will carry The Baton for Len Eadon, whose parents, Lynda and Andy, campaign tirelessly on behalf of lonely and isolated members of rural communities. For those that are following The Baton across the UK, the Len’s Light tractor will reappear on Day 12 in Trafalgar Square for a second contribution to the Tour.

Public support will be welcome.

11:05 – 11:30

1 scottish parliament

Legislators in all four countries have an enormously important role in funding more resources that help bring down the UK’s stagnant suicide numbers. Maree Todd, the Scottish Government Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport will speak later in the day, but other MSP supporters of the Baton of Hope will use this opportunity to speak up for suicide prevention campaigners, and the many teams that care about mental health wellbeing in Scotland.

Public support will be welcome.

11:50 – 12:10

2 st giles’ cathedral

In the shadow of the Cathedral, we will welcome the Rt. Hon. Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge, to share his support for the Baton of Hope initiative. As a former chief executive of the Scottish Council for Single Homeless, Councillor Aldridge is familiar with the challenges that people face in their daily lives, and can speak with authority on the need to inspire hope.

Public support will be welcome.

12:10 – 12:30

louise Marshall – ‘Scotland’s national piper’

Once the Lord Provost has finished speaking, Louise, who is Piper to The Lord Provost, will join her brother Paul and together they will carry The Baton, with musical accompaniment, along Lawnmarket and Castlehill to Edinburgh Castle.

Public support will be welcome every step of the way.

12:30 – 13:10

3 edinburgh castle

We will pause at The Castle before tackling the stairway to the ramparts. At 12:55, we should be arriving at the site of the One O’clock Gun. On this special Monday, The Baton will be held up alongside The Gun when it fires its daily salute, sending out a clear signal that it is time for Hope.

13:35 – 15:00

4 the meadows

At this most attractive open active space, we will host our Charity Village. Bringing together both local and national suicide prevention charities, we will give Edinburgh people the chance to discover how Mums, Dads, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Friends and Colleagues all have a potential part to play in suicide prevention. Our special thanks to the Pavilion Community Hub Café for their support to the Baton Community… and their delicious food: Pavilion Community Hub Café

Public support will be welcome.

15:15 – 15:25

5 the grassmarket

There is no planned event here (music, activities or talks) but The Grassmarket is an important site for Edinburgh and its people. Full of life and colour, it represents a place where society comes together… to buy and sell of course, but also to greet, meet, and, when needed, support.

Public engagement will be welcome.

16:00 – 16:15

6 rbs st andrew’s square

RBS is a keen supporter of the Baton of Hope. There will be a brief stop at RBS’s Headquarters to promote the importance of businesses engaging with the Baton of Hope’s Workplace Charter, and the six principles that it establishes for suicide support and prevention in the workplace.

16:30 – 17:00

7 st andrew’s square

Also in St Andrew’s Square, we acknowledge the challenges that the Blue Light Services face in their work every day, and the impact that this has on their people. We will hear from senior representatives of the Services, as well as frontline colleagues. We will also hear from Maree Todd, the Scottish Government Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, and her view on what more can be done to support those working in suicide prevention and mental health wellbeing.

Public support will be welcome.

17:10 – 18:00

finish princes street gardens

To end, we will spend a participative hour in Princes Street Gardens, meeting Edinburgh people, answering their questions, and giving them one last opportunity to be part of The Baton’s journey before it heads south to spend time in England.

Public support and engagement will be welcome.