Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Samaritans Registered Charity No. 1170657 is a self-funding charity affiliated to The Samaritans organisation.
We have around 70 unpaid volunteers doing their committed shifts week in week out, throughout the day and night to provide the Samaritan service to callers who need help, some at the most desperate times of their lives. People talk to us anytime they like, in their own way about problems they are currently encountering. In fact, of over 5 million contacts to the entire charity last year, 80% were not suicide related.
It costs £147 to run and maintain our branch and shop each day, this includes initial and ongoing training for all our volunteers. Each day we answer 70 phone calls and 5 emails, as well as being there for anyone who chooses to visit for a face to face contact.
The onus is upon us to maintain both of our properties in Blackpool town centre, cover utility costs and telephone charges, including our free call service 116123. We provide training facilities, fund our Outreach projects and support our listeners at H.M.P. Kirkham, also making an annual contribution to the central charity.
Ordinarily we work with high risk groups within the local community, we have had to put these events on hold during the pandemic. Our valuable work was recognised at the beginning of lockdown when our organisation was recognised as an essential service.
Our website can be found using this link https://www.samaritans.org/branches/blackpool/
