Dr Brian Iddon MP in support call for Samaritans 24:7 Day
20th July 2007
Bolton South East MP Dr Brian Iddon MP this week lent his support to the Samaritans 24:7 campaign which aims to raise awareness of Samaritans service, their need for volunteers and funds.
Dr Iddon said,
“Samaritans operates at the forefront of people’s emotions enabling those in distress and despair, from stress and depression to serious suicidal thought, to find a way forward. The 24:7 day allows me to throw my support behind this campaign. I'm keen to raise awareness amongst my constituents about the work of the Samaritans and suggesting that if they are looking for a unique and useful volunteering experience that they contact Samaritans to find this.
Samaritans needs volunteers with a range of skills from being able to listen to being willing to sort mail, raise funds and crucially to work to ensure that this key community resource is plugged into its residents at every level.
Their service continues to be 24 hours a day, as it has for over 50 years. I personally want to thank them for the time they give to this community."
The number of events organised in relation to 24:7 has a bearing on awareness of Samaritans’ round-the-clock emotional support service – but also on funds raised and Samaritans relies entirely on fundraising and donations from the public and companies as the charity receives virtually no Government funding. Samaritans needs £15 million a year to keep its service running.
Anthony Langan, Public Affairs Manager with Samaritans said
"It really great to report that 24:7 saw many fun, enjoyable and above all, fruitful events. It is also important to remember that Samaritans exist to support those who find it hard to speak. We must bridge the gap between those in distress and ourselves I want to give my thanks to everyone getting behind this campaign and raising the profile of Samaritans to ensure we reach those that need us."
Dr Brian Iddon MP pictured here with Andrew Langan, Public Affairs Manager at the Samaritans and the Samaritans 24:7 Alarm Clock
Samaritans volunteers cover 482 phone telephone help-lines 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, 365 days-a-year. Samaritans phone lines are busiest between 10.00p.m and 2.00a.m in the morning.
Samaritans has received calls from people as young as six and as old as 90 in the course of its 53 year-old history.
For further information about the work of the Samaritans please contact their press team on 0208 394 8350
For further information, please contact Brian Iddon's Westminster office on 0207 219 2096