RunningSpace - Championing Life, Beating Suicide

Aim

RunningSpace Runners are competing in the 39th Hastings Half Marathon, 26th March 2023 to raise funds to CHAMPION LIFE and BEAT SUICIDE.

‘I am a suicide survivor. I struggled with suicidal thoughts following a lifetime of self-harm and eventually I tried to take my own life. I founded RunningSpace seven years ago to teach people to run to beat suicide, to protect our communities from suicide and to support individuals back to life in all its fullness.’ (Jacqueline Youldon, Founder and Director of RunningSpace.)

In the UK, one person dies by suicide every two hours, and yet suicide can be prevented. For every suicide, there are an estimated 20 attempts, and there are many more who struggle with thoughts of suicide. For every person who dies by suicide, an estimated 134 are affected, from family and friends to community and colleagues, as well as front line services.  

The World Health Organisation (WHO) state that protectors for suicide include: 

• Strong personal relationships
• Religious or spiritual beliefs
• lifestyle practice of positive coping strategies and wellbeing

(Source: Preventing Suicide: a global imperative. Geneva: World Health Organisation (WHO) 2014) 

RunningSpace, uniquely we believe, combines these three elements into one replicable model.

A RunningSpace replication includes the following elements: -  

• Coached RunningSpace sessions – UK athletics qualified coaches teach people how to run from walking
• A community-based venue to host post sessions refreshments, encourage meaningful relationships, and friendships built. 
• Regular Prayer (for those who would like to)
• World Suicide Prevention Day relay event on 10th September each year
• Volunteers and coaches will attend a safeTALK Suicide Alertness For Everyone Training, a WHO approved training accessible to everyone who want to learn the skills to identify someone who might be struggling with thoughts of suicide and direct them to further help. 

Uniquely we combine physical activity, relationships, and faith. RunningSpace offers a way to practically support people who might be affected by suicide, in a helpful and safe way. 

The purpose of this project is to sustain existing groups in Bexhill and Ore, and establish RunningSpaces in more communities across East Sussex, to equip them to become able, appropriate, and available to help those affected by suicide.

This project successfully funded on 28th March 2023