Bognor Regis and Chichester Samaritans celebrate Brew Monday 2026 at Chichester station

On Monday 19 January, our volunteers went along to Chichester train station to celebrate Brew Monday 2026.

Brew Monday is an annual Samaritans awareness event that encourages everyone to check in with a friend and catch up over a hot drink. The day is about ignoring the negativity often associated with the season and promoting the power of human connection instead.

Just like last year, a team of our fantastic volunteers paid a visit to Chichester train station. We set up a stall in the foyer and were also on the platforms to greet commuters and staff. We had many friendly conversations all morning, handing out listening tips and Brew Monday teabags to help spread our simple message: that reaching out to a loved one and starting a conversation could make all the difference.

We were also at the station to raise awareness of our service and let people know that we are here to listen when times are tough. By hosting awareness events such as Brew Monday, we hope to increase understanding of what we do and highlight how we can support anyone going through a difficult time.

During the morning, a few of our volunteers also travelled on the train between Chichester and Barnham to chat with passengers. They were delighted to have so many warm face-to-face interactions and to find that many people were familiar with the charity and all the work we do to ensure that people struggling to cope have somewhere to turn to.

Paul Brady, branch director, said: “It was encouraging to see how receptive people were today. Raising awareness face-to-face helps break down stigma and lets people know that support is available 24/7, whatever they’re going through.”

Here are a few more pictures from the day. We would like to thank Andrew Gardener from Govia Thameslink Railway for taking the photos. We were also thrilled that our Brew Monday activities were included in the Chichester Observer, and we would like to thank them for their support in helping us raise awareness.