Grant awarded to Tamworth Samaritans as council honour longest night by lighting the castle green

Tamworth Samaritans receive three-year grant of £5k per year Tamworth Castle join message that #youareneveralone by lighting up green 21 December marks the shortest day and longest night of the year

Tamworth Borough Council have awarded a £5,000 grant to Tamworth Samaritans for three years, to the value of £15,000.

The award will be issued from 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2028, with an option to extend for one further year.

Samaritans training and engagement programmes support organisations with staff training and support for anyone struggling to cope.

Previous grant funding has helped Tamworth Samaritans to sustain a local branch, which can then support local outreach and take part in local events including Brew Monday in January, Small Talk Saves Lives campaign, weekly drop-in at the railway station to keep in touch and maintain a regular dialogue with station staff.
 

During April 2024 – September 2024, Tamworth volunteers supported:

• 4736 phone calls

• 1387 hours on the phone

• 389 e-mails responded to

• 7 people out of 10 say they feel better after speaking to a Samaritan

On Saturday 21 December, Tamworth Borough Council are honouring the Samaritans on the longest night of the year, by lighting the castle green in the hope to spread hope and support at Christmas and the message #youareneveralone.

The castle will be lit up after 4pm, showing the council’s commitment to this important message. The Samaritans are always there to listen, even during the festive season, ensuring that no one has to face their struggles alone.

People are invited to share this message by displaying a light in their window to symbolise support and solidarity, demonstrating that together, we can make a difference.

Samaritans’ volunteers offer their support day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Samaritans is not only for the moment of crisis, but they also take action to prevent the crisis.

Councillor Sarah Daniels, portfolio holder for co-operative council, community partnerships and ASB, said:” Lighting the castle green to honour the work of the Samaritans on the longest night of the year, helps to raise awareness of the lifesaving work their volunteers do, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“The Samaritans volunteers spend almost 1 million hours a year responding to calls for help. Lighting up our iconic monument, is a small way we can honour the Samaritans for more than 70 years of service and a reminder of how vital Samaritans is needed now more than ever before.

“We are proud as a council to support the Tamworth Samaritans branch through grant funding, to enable the continued outreach activity programme that helps some of our most vulnerable residents and offers support when it is most needed.”