Ardonagh

Support from ACT means that Samaritans can continue to be there for people struggling to cope. ACT kicked off the partnership in April 2021 with a generous donation of £25,000 to Samaritans. In summer 2022, the trust reached a big milestone in the partnership by raising £100,000, the equivalent of 20,000 calls for help.

Over the course of the partnership ACT is championing fundraising and volunteering opportunities for staff to get involved with Samaritans in branches across the UK and Ireland.

With ACT’s support, Samaritans will continue to pilot the new online chat service enabling more people to reach out for support in a way that is most comfortable to them as well as continue to provide round-the-clock emotional support every day and every night.

From fundraising challenges and clever quizzes to innovative schemes and fitness feats, ACT and Ardonagh colleagues have gone above and beyond in demonstrating their clear commitment to mental health and wellbeing, while raising an incredible amount that will help save lives.

Colleagues from across the organisation have come together to take part in a number of events, including Ride4Life, which is an annual challenge for the company. In 2021 the team took part to honour the event’s founder Andy Coles and his friend Damien Natale, who sadly lost their lives while training for the 2020 cycle.

More recently colleagues donned their football boots to take part in a charity match against a team of Underwriters from across London, and teams from across the company also took on the challenge of climbing Snowdon, as well as a Tough Mudder.

As well as raising an incredible amount of money for Samaritans, the company has also raised awareness and promoted mental health and wellbeing by sharing tips, tools, and resources to help everyone look after themselves, as well as those around them. More than 60 Mental Health First Aiders and colleagues from across The Ardonagh Group have so far attended and engaged with webinars and education sessions to gain insight into looking after their emotional health.

During the organisation’s 2022 employee awards evening recently the Samaritans partnership was also celebrated, with the Ride4Life team winning a special recognition award. A Golden Envelope raffle was also held, and in total the evening has raised more than £5,000 so far.

Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help. The funds raised through the partnership will ensure that Samaritans can continue to be there for people, whatever they’re facing.