GREATER Anglia will be supporting Samaritans Brew Monday campaign next week, with a series of events at railway stations across the network to encourage people to stay connected and look out for one another.

Greater Anglia is helping to highlight that there is no such thing as the saddest day of the year, also known as ‘Blue Monday’, and Samaritans have long worked to dispel this myth, as it can discourage people from seeking support when they need it most. The charity’s listening volunteers are busy every day of the year, responding to a call for help every 10 seconds.

Brew Monday turns this moment into something positive by encouraging people to pause, share a cuppa and have a conversation, reminding us all of the power of simple human connection.

The annual event encourages people to stay connected by having a cuppa and a catch-up.

To help celebrate and raise awareness of Brew Monday, Greater Anglia colleagues will be joining Samaritans volunteers at stations across the network on Monday 19 January, where they will be chatting to passengers about the power of connecting over a cuppa.

Events on Monday 19 January will take place at the following stations across the Greater Anglia network:

Station and Time

Cheshunt

07:00-08:30

Broxbourne

07:00-08:30

Harlow Town

07:00-08:30

Ware

07:00-08:30

Stansted Mountfitchet

07:00-08:30

Bishops Stortford

07:00-08:30

Cambridge

08:00-11:00, 15:30-19:00

Colchester

07:00-09:30

Chelmsford

07:00-12:00

In addition, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project will host a Brew Monday event with Lowestoft and Waveney Samaritans, offering free tea, coffee and cake in the Parcels Office at Lowestoft railway station on Monday 26 January from 10:30 to 13:00.

Samaritans volunteers will also be at Clacton on Sea railway station on Monday 26 January from 12:30 to 15:00.

Georgia Payne, Greater Anglia’s Safeguarding and Community Safety Manager, said:

“We are proud to be supporting Samaritans Brew Monday campaign again this year. It is so important that we continue to share this message with both our passengers and our colleagues.

“Samaritans has worked in partnership with Network Rail and the wider rail industry since 2010, encouraging people to recognise the power of human connection and to start a conversation that could save a life.

“By taking part in Brew Monday, we are putting that into practice and helping to challenge the Blue Monday myth, one cup of tea at a time.”

Anyone can contact Samaritans, free, any time from any phone on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans:org or visit www:samaritans:org