Our vision is that fewer people die by suicide. The trusts and foundations we work with – at local and national level – are key and valued partners in our work to reduce the risk of suicide.
Our services are in demand more than ever. Last year, our incredible volunteers answered over 3 million calls for help. We could not meet the demand for our services without the vital support from trusts and foundations, their support means that Samaritans can continue to be there for anyone who is struggling to cope.
I felt desperately alone and hopeless. I didn’t feel like I had anyone to turn to. I rang Samaritans and spoke to a volunteer. They were so kind and patient. They didn’t judge, or preach, or give advice. They just listened, and empathised. They gave me exactly what I needed. By the end of the conversation I felt hope.
Samaritans caller
How we work with our partners
At Samaritans, we take great pride in working closely with each of our funders, who share our goals and work with us to create change that saves lives. We strive to understand and provide the right level of engagement to meet your funding needs, whether that be through bespoke reports and updates, or regular meetings with our experts and volunteers to get close to the impact of your support.
Working with us, your trust or foundation will have a dedicated key point of contact, and we will tailor how we work together to ensure you have the best possible experience of supporting Samaritans.
We have supported Samaritans and the valuable work they do for over a decade. In the early days of the pandemic, we invited Samaritans to be one of our delivery partners. We were impressed at the speed and effectiveness of Samaritans’ response. They quickly built a grants programme from scratch ensuring that branches, which normally rely heavily on community fundraising, could remain open, and that premises could be adapted to keep staff and volunteers safe. Today, we continue to support Samaritans to build the sustainability of their branch network, supporting the thousands of listening volunteers who are there around the clock, responding to callers struggling to cope.
Sir Trevor Pears, Executive Chair, Pears Foundation
Funding priorities
Every year, we have to raise funding to cover the cost of our helpline services and make sure it’s fit for purpose and future-proof.
Samaritans is currently undergoing a major digital transformation works, the biggest in our 70-year history, which will help us scale up and expand our existing service, so we can be there for more people in their time of need.
If you are interested in finding out more about this funding opportunity, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].