Autumn/Winter 2015
Issue 27
We're here round the clock
Inside this issue Our promise to you Meet our new CEO Hear our exciting news
u o y o t e is m o r p r u O You might have seen the recent media coverage about charity fundraising practices. As a valued Samaritans supporter, you form a vital part of our charity. We wanted to reassure you that we are dedicated to achieving the highest possible standards in our fundraising, and Samaritans will always ensure that:
Your personal data is kept safe and secure, and we will never sell or swap it with other charities.
We are especially careful and sensitive when engaging with individuals who have been affected by suicide or who are vulnerable.
We keep up to date with all fundraising and data protection legislation and guidelines, and constantly review our fundraising activities to ensure they are followed.
It is simple for you to change the way we communicate with you; you just need to tell us when and how you want to hear from us.
Your support is so important to us and allows us to be there round the clock for anyone who needs us, whenever they need us. We value your opinions so if you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Supporter Care team, Monday to Friday 9am–5pm: 03709 00 00 32
supportercare@samaritans.org
24/7 We're here round the clock
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Exciting news! It’s been an exciting time for us here with the recent launch in September of our new free-to-caller number, 116 123, in the UK. Until now, our callers have had to pay for calls made to our UK national and local numbers. We knew this was a barrier to many people contacting us and that it had to change, but unfortunately it wasn’t sustainable for us to cover the cost of all the calls we received. With the support of the Big Lottery Fund, we’ve been working with telecommunications companies, Ofcom and the Department of Health to try to find a way to make Freecall sustainable for the future. Now, thanks to this work, we have been able to significantly reduce the cost to Samaritans of taking these calls making it possible for us launch the number across the UK (the number was launched in the Republic of Ireland in March 2014). This means our callers in the UK can call for free from landlines, mobiles and payphones. As well as this, the 116 123 number doesn’t show up on itemised phone bills, so callers don’t have to worry about others seeing they have called us either. We look forward to keeping you updated on how this fantastic breakthrough will improve access to our vital service.
116 123
FREE
ll
This number is FREE to ca
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Hello Ruth erland, Our new CEO, Ruth Suth joined us in August, so we e what caught up with her to se she has planned for us…
You have worked in the health arena for 35 years, has this influenced the way you think Samaritans can support people?
What are you most looking forward to about Samaritans? I’ve heard some stories from the volunteers and staff about why they are here and it’s because we all believe in what Samaritans is trying to do. Being relevant, appropriate and available to the people who want to contact us, and call us is important. The pace of change in people’s lives is immense and making sure we keep pace with them to be all of those – relevant, appropriate and available – is crucial.
I’ve spent a lot of time working on inequalities in health so that’s a particular interest and the people I have supported in that time have similarities with Samaritans callers, vulnerable groups of people that are experiencing difficulties. One thing that experience tells me is the need for Samaritans will always be there – the simple act of human contact. Loneliness is growing, especially in young people… machines connect us to people, which is why we like them! But human connection is really fundamental to our health and wellbeing.
connection “is Human really fundamental to our health and wellbeing.
24/7 We're here round the clock
”
What do you see as being your main purpose as Chief Executive for the first year? Keen to listen, there’s a lot to understand about how everything
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works. You have to feel your way with the organisation and get to know the people; this is a long term commitment for me. You have to think as a Chief Executive about what is the impact of what you do in the future, what’s gone before you and will come after you.
Working Together to Reduce Suicide Our new 2015–2021 strategy focuses on how we can continue to provide and improve our vital services, so we can keep being there for people struggling to cope, and so fewer people die by suicide.
What do you like doing in your free time? Family, I have a big family. Food too, Christmas is always a big gig for me! I like gardening, nature and the outdoors. I’m a Trustee of the Wildlife Trust too and I’m really interested in the impact of nature on people’s mental health. Proximity to green space and proximity to blue space and if you’re lucky enough to have both it’s a huge impact on your mental health.
The strategy sets out four key areas for improvement over the next six years: Service – improve the quality and consistency of our service. Access – improve access to Samaritans service. Influence – have stronger and more effective external influence and connections.
We’re thrilled to have Ruth as the new CEO of Samaritans. Her appointment comes at just the right time as we begin our ambitious new 2015–2021 strategy – ‘Working Together to Reduce Suicide’.
Evidence – improve collection and application of evidence.
We can only continue our work because of your support, so thank you so much; you really do make a huge difference. 5
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ry of
We comment on the sto
Jamie Harrington
Samaritans recently commented on the story of a Dublin teen’s intervention that went viral on social media, which shows just how important talking can be. 16 year old Jamie Harrington from Ballymun spotted a man sitting on a bridge and asked him if he was ok. They talked for some time and Jamie ultimately ‘talked him down’. Three months ago the man got in touch with Jamie to say that his wife is pregnant, they’re having a boy and they will be naming him after Jamie, in recognition of this life changing moment. Jamie posted this on Facebook and has since been liked over 20,000 times!
can be lifesaving. We would encourage anyone who is struggling to cope to speak out as soon as possible. “When people reach suicidal crisis and are focused on taking their own life, they are often at the point where they have lost sight of finding a way through their problems, but this period usually only lasts a very short period of time. The tipping point can be very slight and therefore it may not take a huge amount to help someone see a way through – something as simple as someone asking, ‘are you ok?’ can be enough to take someone out of suicidal crisis, as we’ve seen with this case.”
through “Talking whatever is
getting to you – it can be lifesaving.
”
Ruth Sutherland, our Chief Executive said; “Jamie Harrington’s intervention highlights the importance of talking through whatever is getting to you – it
Talk to us If things are getting to you
24/7 We're here round the clock
116 123
FREE
This number is FREE to call
jo@samaritans.org
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samaritans.org visit us – find your nearest branch on our website
Our recent events 2015 has been one of our biggest eventing years with over 11 events so far, including the Windsor Triathlon, Bupa 10k and the Brighton Marathon. And it’s been a huge success! We had our biggest cycling team of 106 riders take on the Ride London 100 on 2 August which has raised an incredible £53,000 so far, with more money still due in. Earlier in the year, we also had an impressive 76 runners taking part in the London Marathon for us which raised a massive £150,000. They were both popular events, and we always get great feedback on how the cheerers and support along the way help the team through it, so thank you to all that were involved. If you’re up for a challenge and would like to take part in one of our events next year then take a look at our website to find out more information.
samaritans.org/events events@samaritans.org
Our next event is of the spooky sort – a 2k, 5k or 10k run through Richmond Park, London on 1 November. If you’d like to take part, as either an individual or family team of four (two adults, two children), please contact Emma by 23 October.
Fancy dress is optional and there are prizes for the best costumes and two start times to choose from. A great atmosphere is guaranteed for groups of friends and family alike with four Halloween Zones on the course and a ‘Trick or Treat Alley’ at the finish line.
020 8394 8357 e.burgess@samaritans.org 7
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Wilson’s story itans after the Wilson, 28 called Samar the middle of death of a friend. It was e was around. the night and no one els
I’d lost a good friend of mine, he was a close friend and I was struggling. It was a short, very serious illness so his death was quite sudden.
about them. Anyway, I gave them a ring. I was on the phone for about 40 minutes, just talking to somebody, and it felt really good, just to talk about how I felt.
I wasn’t in a particularly deep, dark place. I wasn’t having any sort of suicidal thoughts or anything like that. I was just up one night as I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about my friend and I just thought I really could do with someone to talk to.
I needed to talk about my friend, and to tell them that I was missing him and, because his death had come so suddenly, I felt it was a bit unfair, I was a bit angry. The fact that this person, who I didn’t know and who I’m never going to meet, was happy to listen really helped. I could tell them as much or as little as I wanted, and there was no judgement, they were just there to listen.
It felt really good, “just to talk about how I felt. ”
My wife had gone to bed, it was about two or three o’clock in the morning. I just searched online for Samaritans and the number came straight up and I just thought, ‘Well, why not? I’ll see if anybody there wants to listen’.
I was absolutely blown away with the effects that just talking to somebody can have, it made me feel a million
I’d always been aware of Samaritans, but I didn’t really know all that much
24/7 We're here round the clock
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To protect the callers privacy this photo has been posed by a model.
I was blown away with the effects just talking to someone can have.
“
”
Talk
times better. So now I’ve become a volunteer myself. I know the value of being able to talk to someone who doesn’t give their own opinions, doesn’t try and tell you what to do and doesn’t judge you.
to us
When you talk to a Samaritans volunteer, it’s completely confidential. It’s never going to go anywhere because we don’t know who you are, or where you are. So you can talk about whatever’s getting to you. As a volunteer, you come off the phone knowing that you’ve made that difference.
u
If things are getting to yo
116 123
FREE
This number is FREE to call
jo@samaritans.org samaritans.org visit us – find your nearest branch on our website
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Play our
s a m t s i r Ch Raffle! It might seem a bit early to be thinking about tinsel and carols, but our Christmas Raffle is well under way and could make you up to £5,000 richer in time for Christmas day! You may have received your raffle pack in the post, so don’t forget to take part by 1 December. All proceeds help support our vital work and could make your Christmas extra special this year! If you haven’t received a raffle pack in the post, or would like more tickets, please contact our Supporter Care team and they will arrange for your raffle tickets to be sent out to you.
1st
£5,0O or a luxury cruise
2nd
£50
or a Smart TV
3rd
03709 00 00 32 supportercare@samaritans.org
5 x £50
or a Christmas hamper
Ticket cost: £1 Closing date: 1 December 2015 Draw date: 8 December 2015 24/7 We're here round the clock
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HELP US BE THERE WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS Leave the precious gift of hope in your Will. Over the last 60 years Samaritans has grown from one man and a phone to 201 branches in the UK and Ireland, with 21,200 volunteers. We receive millions of calls for help each year, from people who feel they have nowhere else to turn. No matter what happens in the years ahead, Samaritans will be there for people who feel there’s no way to go on. There will always be a need for the irreplaceable support Samaritans offers.
That’s why gifts in Wills are absolutely critical.
would Please contact us if you like further information
However big or small, your legacy could help us be there for people struggling to cope round the clock, every day of the year.
03709 00 00 32
samaritans.org/legacy
Charity registered in England and Wales No. 219432 and in Scotland No. SCO40604.
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