Press Release: Brit band Ben’s Brother teams up with Samaritans for Stress Down Day
Date: 23rd January 2008
Contact: Claire Duncan
Phone: +44 (0)20 8394
8345
Email: c.duncan@samaritans.org
Out of hours press phone: 07943
809162
‘Win a Song’ competition is launched to encourage young people
to share their experiences
Ben's Brother, the London based five piece Indie band, has
teamed up with Samaritans to launch an exclusive competition 'Win a
Song' to encourage people to submit stories celebrating their
courage or someone else's during a tough time in their life. The
fantastic prize for the winning entry is a song written by Ben's
Brother. For more details on the competition visit http://www.bensbrother.com/winasong.
Finalists from the competition will be invited to Neal’s Yard in
Covent Garden, London on Friday February 1st as part of Samaritans’
Stress Down Day, where Ben’s Brother will be performing a live
acoustic set. The winner of the competition will be announced at
6.15pm along with the release date for the single. There will also
be top prizes for the runners up.
Therapists from Neal’s Yard Remedies will be offering free massages
throughout the day.
Jamie Hartman of Ben’s Brother encourages people to talk about how
they are feeling. He said: “I find writing music and singing is a
great way for me to deal with the feelings and experiences I have
been through. Knowing that I am helping others through my music is
extremely rewarding and fulfilling. I would encourage anyone who
feels they would like to share a life experience to submit their
story to ‘Win a Song’. If you have been or are going through an
experience that you would like to talk to somebody about in
complete confidence contact Samaritans.”
See the interview with Ben's Brother
Stress Down Day
Samaritans suggests people give their toes some TLC and
swap their stilettos for slippers at work on Stress Down Day in
return for a donation to Samaritans. Lead singer Jamie of Ben’s
Brother said: “Wear your slippers to work and make a contribution
to a stress-free working environment whilst also supporting
Samaritans.”
“If you fancy wearing a pair of furry green slippers to work
on Stress Down Day you can order them by visiting the website
www.stressdownday.org.”
The website also features other ways to support Stress Down Day,
along with information about how to conquer stress in the workplace
and take better care of your emotional health.
Samaritans launched Stress Down Day last year and the charity is
hoping 2008’s fundraising day will be even better, with more people
becoming aware of the issue of stress in the workplace and finding
positive ways of dealing with it.
-ends-
Notes to editors
It is the aim of Samaritans to make emotional health a
mainstream issue. Samaritans' vision is for a society where fewer
people die by suicide because people are able to share feelings of
emotional distress openly without fear of being judged. Samaritans
believes that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in
confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair
and suicidal feelings.
Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in 1953, which offers
24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone in emotional
distress. The service is offered by 16,800 trained volunteers and
is entirely dependent on voluntary support. Across the UK, you can
call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of
Ireland) email jo@samaritans.org, write to
Samaritans at Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA, or if you are
deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom number
08457 90 91 92. Log on to www.samaritans.org for more
information. Calls from BT will be charged at up to 4 pence per
minute at all times. A call set-up fee of 3 pence per minute
applies to calls from residential lines. Mobile and other
providers' charges may vary.