Earlier today, British Steel hosted the opening leg of the North Lincolnshire Baton of Hope Tour.
The baton left our Conference Centre and was carried around our site by a total of 15 baton bearers who travelled past our Rod Mill, within sight of our Blast Furnaces, past our Occupational Health building before finishing the leg on one of the locomotives.
Here is a video of Occupational Health Manager, Martin Welch, completing British Steel’s leg of the Baton of Hope tour, arriving at the final stop on one of Appleby Frodingham Railway’s locomotives, before the baton was passed on to the next leg of the tour.
Martin has led the planning for British Steel’s involvement in the tour, determined to show the commitment the Occupational Health Team have to raising awareness for suicide prevention. Our on-site fire service, Humberside Fire Rescue Solutions, were also heavily involved, supporting the baton bearers, having first aid support on standby and using their emergency vehicles to enhance the route.
Working alongside North Lincolnshire Council and the Baton of Hope, Martin’s several months of hard work paid off today, with a touching tour of our Scunthorpe site filled with colleagues cheering the baton bearers on.
Martin Welch, Occupational Health Manager, said: “As a business, we’re dedicated to supporting our workforce regarding mental health and suicide awareness. Working with our partners at North Lincolnshire Council, I am proud to welcome the Baton of Hope to our site and we pledge to continue to make the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues a top priority.”
Farzana Khanum, Public Health Manager at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible work of Martin in making the Baton of Hope launch at British Steel a reality.
“Martin and his team have gone above and beyond to make British Steel a beacon for suicide prevention and I couldn’t be prouder to have worked alongside him on this journey.”