Blackpool

We support callers by phone and email.

Our Branch

The Blackpool Fylde & Wyre Samaritans branch was opened on the 25th January 1979, and has been providing emotional support for people who are struggling to cope for over 40 years. Samaritans volunteers are ready to listen around the clock, every single day of the year.

As a branch we are committed to opening 108 hours each week, this includes 3 sometimes 4 overnights per week.

We have two volunteers on their 3hr shifts at any one time and each day we answer an average of 80 contacts.

We have around 70 listening volunteers who always work in pairs, 3 hours per shift, up to 8 shifts per day.

Our impact

Getting a response from a real person and being given the time and space to talk things through helps people to find a way through their problems.

When people contact Samaritans for emotional support, they often mention several concerns. In 2019, some of the primary concerns raised related to isolation and loneliness, family, mental health or illness, physical health or illness, and relationship problems. Suicidal feelings are expressed during 1 in 4 calls for help that involve emotional support.

In a recent study, callers to Samaritans’ helpline reported a significant reduction in distress. A week after calling Samaritans, eight out of ten callers said they felt the call had a positive impact on how they were feeling (Markham, T., Forshaw, A. and Sutcliffe, R. (2020). Samaritans Caller Outcomes Study. Birmingham: MEL Research Ltd).

Support our branch

We are an affiliated branch which means we rely entirely on donations from the public, businesses and other organisations. Any gift you feel able to give us will help us continue to reach those who are struggling to cope, you can do this in a number of different ways shown below:

Our Shop

Come and visit us at 66 Topping Street, we have some amazing goods for sale so grab a bargain at the same time you will be supporting us to keep the lights on and the phone lines open. Learn More About Our Shop

Pay For A Day Campaign

In May 2019 we decided to launch our ‘Pay for a Day’ campaign, asking companies within our area to support us in demonstrating their social value to the community.’

It costs £192 to run and maintain our branch and shop each day, this includes initial and on-going training for all our volunteers and paying for our Freecall service 116 123.

It also covers Outreach activities in schools, colleges and HMP Kirkham etc.

Contributions are acknowledged with the presentation of a certificate, highlighting the period they’ve helped to keep the branch running. This is then promoted via our social media channels with photo opportunities. If a company has a date of special significance, we can include this as ‘their’ day.

If you would like more information about this amazing campaign please email [email protected]

Learn More About Pay For A Day

Text to Donate

Text TOWER to 70460 to donate £1

Texts cost £1 plus one standard rate message, your donation, could change a life.

Text donations can be anything between £1 and £20 for example

Text TOWER 2 to 70460 to donate £2

Text TOWER 5 to 70460 to donate £5

Text TOWER 20 to 70460 to donate £20

Leave a gift in your Will

By remembering Samaritans in your Will, you can help us be here for generations to come. In every phone call, in every life saved, your kindness could live on.

Samaritans have partnered with Will writing specialists Farewill, the National Free Wills Network and the Irish Free Wills Network so we can offer special schemes that allow you to update or make your Will for free, either online, on the telephone or in person with a local solicitor.

There’s no obligation to leave a gift to Samaritans in your Will by using this service, but if you’d like to support our vital work after you’ve cared for your loved ones, thank you.

Learn More About Leaving A Gift In Your Will Video

Shopping online?

When you choose to shop online, you can signed up for free to easyfundraising to shop with over 3,600 retailers including Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com, eBay, Boden, and M&S.

Every time you shop, you’ll raise a free donation for Blackpool Fylde And Wyre Samaritans every time, it’s that easy!

Find out more: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/blkplwyresamaritans/

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