“Skills for Life” with Lloyd’s

Samaritans has launched an exciting three year partnership with Lloyd’s Charities Trust, the grant-making charity for the Lloyd’s market.

Lloyd’s Charities Trust has decided to focus on those ‘at risk’ in their partnership.  The Trust is funding Samaritans’ “Skills for Life” project which aims to build emotionally healthier communities for young people and those at risk of self harm and suicide. 

Samaritans will now develop a Suicide and Self Harm Response Toolkit to support schools after suicides and self harm cases.  Additionally, the Self Harm Training Bursary will show teachers and others how to work positively with young people at risk.  The training will challenge prejudices, change perceptions about self-harm and improve young people’s experience of key services such as education and health.

The need for this initiative was sadly highlighted by the recent suicides of three teenage boys who were all classmates from Craigavon Senior High School in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive with Samaritans Dominic Rudd said: “I am delighted that Lloyds is joining with Samaritans in a three-year partnership.  Life today can be very demanding. In a crisis it’s often very hard for individuals and communities to decide on what to do next.  People worry or are fearful about what else might happen.  Samaritans will now be able to ensure that we can put resources in place to support young people, teachers and school communities at these difficult times.

Samaritans aims to protect young people from risk as well as being there for them in a crisis - it's therefore particularly appropriate that Lloyd’s Charities Trust is funding our outreach work in schools, where it is vitally needed and where it can have the greatest effect." 

The Lloyd’s market will also support a number of the Samaritans’ national events by engaging brokers, underwriters and insurance companies to raise funds and awareness for the charity’s work.  

Left to right:

Nick Gooding, Chairman Lloyd’s Charities Trust and Senior Cargo Underwriter, XL London Markets;   Graham White, Deputy Chairman Lloyd’s Charities Trust and Executive Director, Argenta Private Capital;  Suki Dale, Senior Corporate Fundraiser, Samaritans and Joe Ferns, Deputy Director of Service Support, Samaritans.