Hope in Hamilton – A positively inclusive project in the community to encourage a cohesive approach to support awareness of mental health struggles and bring the community together with aims to reduce suicides and anti-social behaviour through awareness, engagement of real action that gives impact and promoting a positive community spirit.
Rail74 CRP held a development day at the end of 2019 to understand the community needs along the line with over 10 local partner organisations, local authority, Hamilton business improvement district, Scotrail and a variety of volunteers.
It was agreed that there was a huge concern with an increase in attempted and actual suicides along the Hamilton central main line due to many high speed trains that pass through the station and a long term issue with youth disengagement and anti-social behaviour around the station affecting the rail passengers, communities and staff at the station.
In 2019 we also held various successful sessions along the line supporting passengers with signposting to breathing space, Samaritans and Lets talk campaign through conversation delivered by volunteers, Samh and the railway chaplain which were very well received and impacted on over 500 passengers. We felt like that there was an appetite to do further work.
The journey was set – then boom a pandemic hits ! – despite this set back in 2021 we gained £40,000 funding from Avanti West Coast and willing supporters from Scotrail, Network Rail, Samaritans and the wider community to get things moving, all with the sense of focus for brighter times.
Our aims for the project are :
An engaged community participation in art/design workshops with a target demographic of disengaged young males to bring a sense of inclusion, belonging, pride and hope.
An appealing, interactive art piece at Hamilton Central Station collaborating with the local community as a legacy of the cohesion and provides voices from people in the area.
An increase of usage of support services in the local area relating to mental health awareness and support if you need it.
The installation is coming soon
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