Carlisle News Updated February 2022
Welcome to Samaritans Carlisle, we have been providing emotional support to people in our community and beyond since 1968. We have a very active branch, and between 1st January 2021 and 31st December 2021 we answered over 13,300 telephone calls. As you can imagine, during the last 24 months we have seen an increase in calls for our service.
Phil Gray, the Director of Carlisle Branch, paid tribute to all our volunteers. ‘Huge thanks to each and every volunteer for the time and energy you devote to supporting our callers, whether that means being there at the end of a telephone or by helping in our Botchergate shop’.
Our face to face service is still suspended until further notice due to Covid. However, over the next 12 months we hope to increase our outreach activities and restart our fundraising. You may have already noticed our presence at Carlisle Railway Station. If you do see us please stop and say hello!
At the moment our Charity Shop is open between 11.00am and 3.00pm every Tuesday to Saturday inclusive. Please come along and check out what we have for sale!
Raising funds for Samaritans Carlisle:
In addition to raising income through our Charity Shop we heavily rely on the generosity of the public and other organisations. It costs around £34,000 per year to run our branch.
How can you help us to be there for you when it matters:
To donate via text:
Text CARLISLE3 to 70450 to donate £3 - text cost £3 plus one standard rate message
Text CARLISLE 5 to 70450 to donate £5 – text costs £5 plus one standard rate message.
Text CARLISLE 10 to 70450 to donate £10 – text costs £10 plus one standard rate message.
You too can help by donating to our branch via https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/samaritans-carlisle-1165227
Grants/donations Received for 2021:
Samaritans Carlisle would like to acknowledge the following for their financial support during these unprecedented times:
- In February 2021, we received £3,600 grant from Pears DCMs Community Funding (via Samaritans Central Office), which enabled us to buy personal issue headsets for our listening volunteers.
- We received £2,400 from the Cumbria Office of Police Crime Commissioners, Property Fund to assist with training 16 new volunteers between April 2021 and March 2022.
- Thank you to Carlisle City Council for the COVID grant support of £9,669.21, which we were eligible for in March 2021 in relation to our charity shop closure due to the COVID pandemic. In addition the Council also provided us with a restart grant of £2,667 in early May 2021.
- £8,489 was raised via Much Loved, which is a memorial website charity where people can donate “in memory” of a loved one. One has kindly been set up by a deceased’s family, for Samaritans Carlisle.
In Addition A Big Shout Out goes to:
- Patterdale Parish Council who donated £100 during 2021.
- During May 2021, Laurie raised £2,669 on his solo, unsupported and continuous attempt to walk the 214 Wainwright fells.
- During September 2021, Val completed a solo bike ride from Carlisle to John O’ Groats, raising £3,164.
- Anna Blackburn's mum passed away 28 years ago aged 36 and in October 2021 she would have been celebrating her 65th birthday. To mark this occasion, Anna set herself a personal challenge to walk or ride 3.5 miles every day in October, which she did! Raising £1,329.
- The Dawn Walkers, Diane, Claire and Hazel raised £50 in December 2021.
- The Spinners & Wednesday Warriors Classes at Wigton Rugby Sports & Fitness Club, raised £355 in December 2021 through a sponsored plank challenge.
- Carlisle Crematorium kindly donated £10,000.
- We received donations of £511 via paypal and Text to Donate.
- Thank you Mary, for raising £257 through the sales of Samaritans Christmas Cards.
- Thank you to everyoe who supports Samaritans Carlisle, we can't function without you.