Samaritans shows donor benefits

Samaritans, the UK’s only 24-hour support service for people in emotional distress and at risk of suicide, has created a new welcome pack for regular givers, designed to show how continued support makes a real difference to people’s lives.
The pack has been devised by agency TDA. It includes a booklet entitled ‘Thank you for understanding’ which outlines facts about how many people rely on Samaritans for help 24/7, 365 days a year, ways the charity supports people who are struggling to cope, and how it relies almost entirely on donations to provide this vital lifeline.
The pack also contains a letter from 23-year old Emma, who experienced depression and suicidal feelings for a number of years, and just four years ago, at the age of 19, tried to take her own life. At this difficult time Emma was not aware of the support that was available to her through Samaritans, but she now realises the importance of their round-the-clock confidential support service, and the difference it can make to people’s lives. The letter is contained in an envelope which reads ‘You don’t know me, but you may have just saved my life’.
Regular givers will also receive a set of brightly coloured fridge magnets to use, a reminder of the good work they’re now supporting, and the difference they’re making to the people who call Samaritans throughout the year.
Samaritans director of fundraising Rachel Kirby-Rider said: “It costs more than £10m an year to run Samaritans, yet we receive almost no Government funding. We rely almost entirely on the generosity of donors to be able to provide emotional support to those who need it, 24 hours a day. It’s therefore crucial that we thank our regular donors and reinforce their decision to support us.”
TDA senior account director Corinne LeLoup added: “The welcome pack aims to reassure newly recruited regular supporters that they’ve made the right decision, and to demonstrate how their ongoing personal investment can make such a big difference to the work carried out by Samaritans. We hope that the pack will make people feel proud of the decision they’ve made to support the charity’s work.”