Samaritans offers festive support
Thursday 8 December 2011
- For
immediate release -
Samaritans’ 18,750 volunteers across the UK and Ireland are
reminding people that the service is available 24/7, 365 days a
year, and urging people feeling down, depressed or anxious over the
festive period to get in touch.
In a bid to raise awareness that it’s
‘business as usual’ for Samaritans this Christmas, representatives
from some of the charity’s 201 branches, including Downton
Abbey actor David Robb, took part in a special Christmas Tree
awareness event at London’s Carnaby Street yesterday (Wednesday 7
December).
Gathered around a 9ft tree, which was
decorated with over 300 baubles carrying messages of hope from the
charity’s supporters, Samaritans volunteers offered information
about the service to shoppers and passers by.
Downton Abbey actor, David Robb, who
has been a volunteer at the Central London Branch of Samaritans for
24 years said: “Like many other Samaritans, I’ll be
doing shifts over the Christmas period, and as always, urge people
who are distressed to get in touch. We don’t judge, we’re
confidential, and talking really can help, so don’t keep how you’re
feeling to yourself.”
Samaritans Chair, Stephen Hoddell, who
is also a Samaritans volunteer at the Bristol branch said:
“Our volunteers are truly inspirational. We’re expecting over
190,000 calls from people calling Samaritans for help over
Christmas. Samaritans is one of the only services offering 24/7
support throughout the Christmas period and we want people
struggling to cope, to know we will be there to help them whenever
they need us.”
Samaritans is available for anyone feeling
down, depressed or anxious. Volunteers can be contacted 24/7 to
offer confidential support by phone: 08457 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org or face-to-face;
visit http://www.samaritans.org/ for
details of your local branch.
ENDS
For hi-res photos or more
information about the work of Samaritans please contact Claire
Duncan 020 8394 8345 or email c.duncan@samaritans.org
Notes to Editors:
About Samaritans
Samaritans is here for anyone feeling down and
depressed or struggling to cope. Our volunteers are available 24/7
to offer confidential support by phone: 08457 90 90 90 (ROI) 1850
60 9090, email: jo@samaritans.org, or face-to-face.
Visit http://www.samaritans.org/ for
details of your local branch.