#TeamPurpleYOUR24 - IFS Christmas Appeal is supporting one of our amazing customers, the Samaritans! Coronavirus is changing our lives and the Samaritan’s services are under extra strain. 

To support the appeal I will be running 24 miles along the Marriots Way in Norwich. May even stretch it to a marathon........

The donations you can help raise will help us reach those who are struggling to cope.The coronavirus crisis is the biggest challenge Samaritans have ever faced. The helpline is feeling the pressure. They’re likely to experience more people struggling to cope or in crisis than ever before. 

In 2017, there were 6,213 suicides in the UK and Republic of Ireland. In the UK, men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.

Impact of donations:

· £5 is the cost to answer a call for help

· £96 could train and support an existing volunteer for a year

· £200 could cover the cost of a new volunteer to build the skills they need to answer a call for help

· £500 could keep Samaritans' phone line open for one hour

Please remember to be kind to one another and pick up the phone to check everyone is ok. A good idea is to go through your contacts in your phone and call someone you have not spoken to for a while.