Celebrations and special occasions

Celebration giving

Asking for donations is a great alternative to gifts, no matter the occasion. (And it might save you from yet more shower gel or another badly-fitting jumper!) Plus, it’s easy to do.

Fiona's story

“It was clear once we started planning our wedding that we didn't really 'need' the usual gifts, we had already lived together for 3 years and had everything we wanted."

"About a year before my wedding we were given the devastating news that my uncle had died by suicide. I was completely heartbroken and at the time I was battling my own mental ill health; the news absolutely terrified me. We knew that something had to change, and Samaritans provide a service that can do that. It also made me feel, that in some small way, my uncle was present on the day.

"It's such an overwhelming feeling of pride to think that, with our wedding, we may have just help to save someone's life, to give them the chance to be heard and to prevent another family dealing with the loss of a loved one like we had to.” – Fiona, who pledged her wedding day to Samaritans

How your celebration can help

• Every £5 your friends donate for your birthday could fund a call for help from someone struggling to cope.
• £46 raised by your loved ones on your special day will train and support an existing Samaritans volunteer for a year.
• £200 raised by your birthday could train a new volunteer to offer Samaritans’ life-saving service.
• £5,000 raised by you and your wedding guests could keep Samaritans' phone line open for 24 hours.