Project: Continuing to offer distressed callers anonymous, over-the-phone support during the pandemic
Grant: £2,500
Fund: NET Coronavirus Appeal (more info)
Based in Amersham, Chiltern Samaritans is run by 140 volunteers who handle over 30,000 calls a year from people going through a difficult time.
With the outbreak of COVID-19, Chiltern Samaritans were forced to cancel their annual cycling fundraiser, an event which contributes about 50% of their annual running costs of £30,000.
This £2,500 grant from the NET Coronavirus Appeal has gone towards Chiltern Samaritan’s ongoing costs.
“Having to cancel our annual cycling fundraiser means we have lost £15-£18,000 income”, shares Deputy Director Simon Rubin. “We have made up some of this during the lockdown but it’s too big a gap to allow us to be confident of raising the £30,000 needed to run our branch of Samaritans.
“We have remained 100% open during the crisis through the efforts of our volunteers despite losing 40 out of 140 through self isolation. This grant is enormously helpful to our 2020 wellbeing as an organisation. Thank you”.
