Samaritans Scotland celebrated the new Samaritartan at the first ever Tartan Parade held in Edinburgh on Saturday the 10th May
Samaritans Scotland’s new Samaritartan was part of the beautiful array of tartans that covered the streets of Edinburgh in colour on Saturday 10th of May. The first ever Tartan Parade in Edinburgh saw us joined by many other groups and organisations celebrating their own unique tartans in the glorious sunshine.
Inspired by the extravagant annual Tartan Week festivities in New York, the Parade saw Samaritans Scotland part of an estimated 1,600 people clad in tartan walking through Edinburgh to the sound of swirling pipes and drums.
Samaritans ambassador, Gail Porter, lead the march alongside the President of New York Tartan Week, Kyle Dawson.
The Samaritartan launched in January 2025 as a symbol of connection, and weaving together the volunteers, branches, communities, and the wider organisation in Scotland.
Samaritans Scotland Head of Policy and Communications, Danielle Rowley, said:
“We want the tartan to be a way to connect with the communities we work with, and a way for people to proudly show their support and passion for suicide prevention.
“The symbolism of the lines in the tartan crossing over and the weave of the tartan highlights the importance of connection, and how our lives touch the lives of others. Something as simple as saying ‘hello’, or having a coffee with someone can be enough to make a difference.
We hope that the Samaritartan, as something bright and visual, will act as a conversation starter and help to address the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.”