Samaritans and Network Rail – Small Talk Saves Lives

BACKGROUND

Samaritans and Network Rail partnered with us again to provide broadcast PR support for the latest phase of the ‘Small Talk, Saves Lives’ campaign – which aims to encourage people to trust their instincts and start a simple conversation if they think someone might need help, whether within railway stations or other public settings.

OUR THINKING

Being a campaign that had such a personal feel to it, we needed real stories from real people to give the nation the motivation they need to have those conversations with strangers. We were fortunate enough to have brilliant case studies in Anthony, a Vicar who was approached by a stranger when he was once struggling and Sam, a firefighter who used small talk to help a stranger in distress. Both went onto become Samaritans’ volunteers thus becoming the perfect spokespeople for the campaign.

RESULTS

The story was a huge success, and national coverage included BBC Breakfast, BBC News, BBC Radio 4, Kiss FM and Times Radio, as well as strong regional TV hits across the UK. The story also made a big splash across commercial and regional radio output across the UK.