Events Diary:
Past Events | Ongoing Events

If you thought that being a Samaritan would be either boring or dull then think again!

Here are just a few of the activities that we get up to in our spare time, and when you join us we will be happy to listen to any of your own ideas for future events.

Some of these events are aimed at fundraising and some are aimed at just having fun, it's a great way to meet other volunteers; raise funds for our branch and to create lasting friendships.

Sponsored Abseil Bungee Jumps Auction of Promises Charity Dinners Fetes & Fayres Pub Quizzes Skittles Evenings Sponsored Cycle ride or Swim Car Boot Sales Coffee Mornings / Special Suppers / Barbeques

Here are some of our past events

24/7 2010

VOLUNTEERS from the Barnstaple branch took to the road with some ‘Smart’ thinking.
 
On Saturday 17th July 2010 Branch director Ann Davis was driven to Truro by the husband of Branch Deputy Director Ann Hailstone in the Samaritans customised Smart car, from the North Devon branch in Summerland Street, Barnstaple to the Cornish branch in Truro. Ann Hailstone followed behind to provide the return transport from Truro.

The car had been hand painted with a face on the front and was loaned by a volunteer from the Birmingham branch to help Samaritan branches in the country promote their work. It left Birmingham on Saturday 10th July to start its 14-day UK tour and was driven from branch to branch, covering over 175 of the 202 branches in the UK to help raise awareness of the services Samaritans offer.

Locally, both volunteers put the ANN into SamaritAN when they took delivery of the Smart car at 7:25am and were later welcomed by the Truro branch at 9:20am. Ann Davis, Branch Director was delighted that Barnstaple had an opportunity to participate. She said: “Several people stopped to look at our strange little car with a face painted on the front, as we drove along the route, cars tooted and we received a warm welcome as we arrived in Truro.”

The South West leg of the national route covered branches in Bristol, Taunton, Barnstaple, Truro, Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter, Yeovil and Weymouth, with the Smart car finishing back in Birmingham on Saturday 24th July.

This event had been organised as part of Samaritans annual awareness activities which take part on 24th July (24/7) every year. Publicity Officer Rachel Simpson said: ‘It was fantastic that our branch was involved with such a major event and we are pleased that so many people saw our little Smart car’.

Following on from the Smart car tour, volunteers held a local awareness and recruitment event on Saturday 24th July at St John’s Garden Centre. The purpose of the day was to again raise awareness of the service, but also to attract volunteers. The day was a great success with many people visiting the stand to make enquiries.

Midsummer Music 27th June 2009

Two volunteers from the North Devon and North Cornwall branch of Samaritans organised an event – ‘Midsummer Music’, to raise money for their local branch.

Over 90 people attended the event which raised £800. ‘Midsummer Music’ took place at the end of June 2009 and was held in Combe Martin at the farm of one of the volunteers. Midsummer Music consisted of some wonderful music from talented musicians Reg Meuross and Jackie Oates, with a ‘Pork Bap’ supper.

Both Reg and Jackie have links with Devon and were happy to support the local branch of Samaritans.  The event was supported by Samaritan volunteers, family and
friends.  Guests travelled from as far away as Hampshire, some being old school friends
of Reg Meuross himself. 

Organisers Rachel and Graham said “It was lovely to see so many people supporting Samaritans. Helping towards the final amount raised were a number of donations from people that were unable to attend.  Hopefully we have also helped to raise the profile of Samaritans”

Opening of the New Barnstaple Bridge

In May 2007, the wettest day of the year! We set up our gazebo on the new bridge, to raise awareness of our work, and to fundraise, and two of our Members bravely took part in the Three Bridges fun run.

Despite the weather, they completed the run in about 40 minutes, and they enjoyed it so much, this is now a regular feature of our fundraising.

We are very grateful for all the sponsorship, which raised over £300.

Sponsored Wall Climb (2006)
Our thanks to the Mill Adventure Centre at North Molton who offered their facilities and staff and trained twelve of our Volunteers and their children, to scale their 10 metre climbing wall. This event proved great fun, particulary for the children, who were proud to have raised sponsorship and to gain their certificates marking their achievement.

Carnivals

This year we have been to Ilfracombe and Bideford canivals. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many adults and children who gave, so generously, not just to us, but to all the charities that took part.

Sponsored Abseil 2005

On an extremely wet, wild and windy Saturday in 2005 intrepid adventurers braved the elements to abseil down Castle Rock, Lynton to raise funds for North Devon and North Cornwall Samaritans.

The event was lead by Exmoor Adventure, a locally based company, who generously donated their services free.

We managed the abseils between deluges of rain with some people enjoying it so much they went twice!

As a sponsored event we raised over £1,200. We would like to thank our sponsors, abseilers and everyone who came along to support us.

Events around the area
Although based in Barnstaple, we cover North devon and North Cornwall and are very grateful to some of the surrounding areas that support us.

South Molton - We have held several street collections around your market place, you really are some of the most generous people around, a big thank you.

North Molton - Several years ago, you may remember the wonderful Musical Extravaganza and coffee morning we held in your Village Hall - this event raised us just over £1000 - fantastic. This year, you were also home to one of our most successful garden parties (which was blessed with our usual bad weather, and so was held indoors).

Bideford - We held a Christmas Fayre in your Mill Street Methodist Hall in 2007 and despite the torrential rain the event proved very festive. Those who attended enjoyed the face painting, refreshments, competitions and stalls and raised over £700.

Instow - We have attended many of the Health and Harmony weekends at Tapeley Park over the years - where we raise awareness and sell our delicious home made cakes.

Ilfracombe - We were along your sea front at your Table Top stalls, and we are hoping to be at the Landmark Theatre nearer Christmas selling our Christmas cards and again raising awareness of our service. We hope to meet those of you who live on the North Devon coast.

Ongoing Events

Samaritan Collection Tins - Having Samaritan collecting tins throughout the Community generates awareness of our work and provides us with an ongoing and vital source of income for our branch.

Can you help? If you own or run a business, and feel that you would be prepared to display one, or more, of our Collection tins - please call us at the Centre on 01271 374343 who will be happy to arrange for their delivery and regular emptying. You will be provided with an A4 colour certificate indicating how much was raised each time the tin (s) are emptied, whilst at the same time showing your Clients / Customers that you care about the well-being of others within our Community.

Even if you feel very little would be placed in our tins, please give it a go - there is no commitment for them to stay, and every penny counts to Samaritans.

Samaritans Go Green

Our branch of Samaritans has launched a great way to generate valuable funds for their activities, whilst saving the planet.

Any School, Library, Church or business can help save the Environment and support Samaritans at no cost to themselves. We will arrange collection of empty laser toner cartridges, ink jet cartridges and old mobile phones for recycling. We then receive a donation for every phone or cartridge. If you are involved with a local group, and would like to recycle for Samaritans, please call our Centre on 01271 374343 for more details.

Car Boot Sales

We regularly attend car boot sales in the region, which keeps our Service in the public eye, and also raises much needed funds. Our thanks go to our small group of Volunteers for this.

24 / 7 National Samaritans Day

Every year, on the 24th July, we mark that we are a twenty-four hour, seven day a week service in different ways, sometimes with an overnight vigil.

In 2008, we held a Fayre at Museum Square in Barnstaple. We set up our caravan and were there for the Community from 7 a.m. on the 24th July until 7 a.m. on the 25th July, including very popular strawberry cream teas. Thank you to our helpers and sponsors especially Warrens the bakers and Rodda cream.

We were visited by Torridge District Council Leader, James Morrish and Des Brailley (North Devon Council Deputy Leader), and below is reprinted an article they wrote in our support.

Council Leader Supports Samaritans' 24/7 Campaign

Torridge District Council Leader James Morrish has been to offer his and the Council's support to Samaritans, to mark over 40 years of its North Devon and North Cornwall Branch in Barnstaple, and help promote its 24/7 campaign.

The 24th of July, (24/7), is the perfect date to raise public awareness that Samaritans are there to answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Jackie, the Branch Director, said, "When the Branch was first started it was felt it would be worthwhile even if they did not get the expected three or four calls a week!" Forty years on, and the North Devon and North Cornwall Branch receive over 18,000 contacts a year, mostly by phone, but also via email, text and personal visits to the Branch.

Torridge District Council Leader James Morrish said, "Living in such a rural, isolated district such as Torridge, it is good to know that Samaritans are there, ready to listen to anyone, at any time. The very important work that they do to support the farming community is also vital and they are a charity that I have a lot of respect for."

North Devon Council Deputy Leader Des Brailey said, "North Devon Council are really pleased to be able to support Samaritans for their 24/7 event in Barnstaple. They provide a terrific service to the people of North Devon and beyond and we are pleased to do our bit to assist them.

Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those, which could lead to suicide. The North Devon and North Cornwall Branch is staffed entirely by volunteers, is self¬funding and is always looking for more people who can spare the time and offer the necessary commitment.

To contact Samaritans, call 08457 90 90 90, or email jo@samaritans.org any time day or night, or you can visit the Branch at 2 Summerland Street, Barnstaple from lOam to 9pm. Alternatively, the Samaritans' website is www.samaritans.org/barnstaple

Photo shows, left to right - North Devon Council Deputy Leader, Des Brailey, Jan & Jackie from Samaritans and Torridge District Council Leader James Morrish

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