Inspirational Nottingham Samaritans volunteer awarded MBE

Wednesday 13 January 2010
-For Immediate Release-

Dedicated Samaritans volunteer Marjorie Kirk, from Woodthorpe has been awarded the title of MBE in the 2010 New Years Honours list.

Volunteering with the Samaritans branch in Nottingham for the last 20 years, 75-year-old Marjorie – a retired teacher, has been recognised for voluntary service to HM Prison Nottingham. Committed, supportive, and caring were some of the words the prison staff used to describe Marjorie when they nominated her to receive an MBE.

Marjorie was involved in establishing the relationship with HM Prison Nottingham and developing the Samaritans Listener Scheme at the prison18 years ago. The Listeners Scheme provides prisoners with access to confidential, non-judgemental, 24-hour emotional support, with the objective of reducing the number of suicides and instances of self-harm by helping to alleviate the feelings of those in distress.

Since joining Samaritans in 1990, Marjorie has undertaken a number of different roles for the charity including: Director of the Nottingham branch, Regional Prison Support Officer and Prison Co-ordinator.
 
Chair of Samaritans, Sophie Andrews said: “I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Marjorie Kirk. Being awarded an MBE is a much deserved public acknowledgement of the commitment Marjorie has given to Samaritans and HM Prison Nottingham during the last 20 years as a volunteer. This is a wonderful example of the dedication our 17,000 volunteers put into providing the vital 24/7 Samaritans service.”

Marjorie said: “I feel honoured to have received this award and truly humbled that people from HM Prison Nottingham nominated me.  It is a privilege to have met so many amazing people at the prison through my volunteering with Samaritans and it has been a real pleasure to be involved. I look forward to continuing my voluntary duties as a member of the prison support team for many years to come.”

Marjorie will be presented with her official MBE award in the next six months at a ceremony taking place at St. James’s Palace.

For more information please contact Samaritans’ press office:
Claire Duncan on 020 8394 8345 or email c.duncan@samaritans.org

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Notes to Editors

Samaritans

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 16,534 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 2 pence per minute at all times. A call set-up fee of 7 pence applies to calls from residential lines. Mobile and other providers' charges may vary.