Take time out for a cuppa: Great Western Railway and Network Rail join forces with Samaritans for Brew Monday
Great Western Railway and Network Rail are encouraging customers and colleagues to take time out for a cuppa as they partner with Samaritans for its annual Brew Monday campaign.
Samaritans has long campaigned to dispel the idea that the third Monday of January is particularly difficult, as it could discourage people from seeking life-changing help.
The suicide prevention charity’s listening volunteers are consistently busy every day of the year, responding to a call for help every 10 seconds, which is why it is again working with the rail industry to turn the day into something useful by running Brew Monday on 15 January.
The annual event encourages friends and family to stay connected by having a cuppa and a catch up, and this year is no different.
To help celebrate and raise awareness, GWR staff will be joining Samaritans volunteers at the following stations, handing out teabags and chatting to passengers about the power of connecting over a cuppa:
- Barnstaple
- Bath Spa
- Cheltenham Spa
- Chippenham
- Didcot Parkway
- Exeter St Davids
- Gloucester
- Kemble
- London Paddington
- Newton Abbot
- Oxford
- Penzance
- Plymouth
- Reading
- Truro
People and Transformation Director (Regional) for GWR and Network Rail Wales and Western, Ruth Busby, said:
“We’re really proud to be supporting Samaritans’ Brew Monday campaign again this year and spreading this important message to our passengers and staff.
“Samaritans has worked in partnership with Network Rail and the wider rail industry since 2010 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 and helping to bust the Blue Monday myth over a brew.”
Head of Samaritans Rail Programme, Olivia Cayley, said:
“At Samaritans we know there is no such thing as Blue Monday and people can feel low at any point of the week or year.
“Perpetuating ‘Blue Monday’ may put off reaching for life-changing help if they think everyone else is also feeling down.
“It could also lead people to think they ought to be feeling sad, or believe other people are in worse situations. We do not want anyone to dismiss or minimise the challenging issues they’re facing.
“We want everyone to know that you are never alone and even small moments of human connection like this can play a big role in helping people who are currently struggling.
“We’re so grateful to the rail industry for their support of Brew Monday again this year.
“Our volunteers are available around the clock to listen to anyone who needs support this Brew Monday and every other day of the year, 24/7.”
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 more than 10 years, and has trained over 28,000 rail and BTP staff to look out for passengers and make conversation if they feel someone might be vulnerable.
Anyone can contact Samaritans, free, any time from any phone on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org
Contact Information
John Carter
Media and Communications Manager
Great Western Railway
0845 410 4444
Notes to editors
About Great Western Railway
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us.
About Network Rail
Network Rail owns, operates and develops Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
About Samaritans
Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help. Samaritans is a charity and it’s the public’s kind donations and around 20,000 volunteers that mean we are always there for anyone struggling to cope. Find out how you can support us or volunteer with us. You can follow Samaritans on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Samaritans has worked in partnership with Network Rail and the wider rail industry since 2010, to reduce suicides and support those affected by them. This includes reaching passengers through local volunteer outreach events raising awareness of the charity’s vital life-saving service and supporting campaigns such as Brew Monday.