My Story

I am running for Eastbourne and District Samaritans to raise funds to support the Branch reach out to callers across the country and local people who are going through a difficult  time.

We are a safe space to listen and have conversations with empathy and without judgement.  

As the Director of the Branch, I am responsible for a team of 120 volunteers who answer the phones between 16 and 24 hour per day 7 days per week 365 days per year. We are one of the few Branches offering a face-to-face service 7 days per week from 10:30AM to 10:30PM ( 8:30PM winter).   We answer over 20,000 calls per year. 

We are an affiliated Branch and are responsible for raising all our own funds.  We have a wonderful shop on Grove Road which raises income but we are dependent on donations, legacies and fund raising activities to meet our annual running costs of £60,000. 

We are all volunteers, no one is paid and we give our time but we need to cover the cost of heating and maintaining our premises on Bolton Road.

Please sponsor me so that we can expand our service and extend our reach within the Eastbourne and District area.