Preston Samaritans had a successful weekend at The Preston Weekender festival (03-04 May), raising just over £1,000 to support their vital work in the community.
The two-day event, which saw Pete Tong perform on Saturday and indie rockers Embrace headline on Sunday, provided a perfect platform for the Preston Samaritans to engage with the public and raise awareness about their essential services.
Keith Mitchell, Fundraising Manager at Preston Samaritans, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: "We're absolutely delighted with the response from everyone at The Preston Weekender. The generosity shown by attendees will make a real difference to our service. These donations will help us to answer as many calls as possible from people who need our support."
Since 1970, Preston Samaritans have been providing emotional support to those struggling to cope, responding to calls from people experiencing distress, despair, or suicidal feelings. Our dedicated team of approximately 100 volunteers donates over 10,000 hours annually, ensuring that someone is always available to listen, day or night, throughout the year.
The Preston branch recently relocated from St Wilfrid Street, where they had been since 1972, to modern offices in Navigation Way. The new premises feature a duty room for answering calls, a kitchen, a large training room and two small meeting rooms, helping them continue our mission effectively.
"We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the organisers for allowing us to be part of this fantastic event," Mitchell added. "Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, and the generosity of the guests was truly overwhelming. Special thanks to our volunteers that gave up part of their bank holiday weekend to help raise awareness and fund for the branch"
Every day, Samaritans volunteers across the UK respond to around 10,000 calls for help, offering support to anyone who's struggling to cope and needs someone to listen without judgment or pressure. As a completely volunteer-run charity costing £30,000 annually to operate, Preston Samaritans relies entirely on donations to continue its essential work supporting people in Preston, the surrounding areas, and across the UK.
The funds raised at The Preston Weekender will contribute significantly to maintaining and developing their services, ensuring they can continue to be there for those in need.
You can donate to the Preston Samaritans on this page 💚
