Hi everyone, my name is Holly Almond and I am a volunteer at Grimsby Samaritans. I am 26 and have been a part of this wonderful team since summer 2015. I have a rare and progressive condition leaving me confined to a wheelchair with multiple health problems which prevent me from working. Despite these issues going on in my life I’m not ok with surrendering and not giving back to society. So being part of Samaritans means so much to me. It can be harrowing but also so rewarding to hear that you are making a difference to someone’s life.
However one thing that is of concern to me is our Grimsby branch, a small and unwelcoming building which contradicts the actual purpose of Samaritans, to welcome communication. It is also not the nicest place for some of the most selfless people I have ever met, to volunteer in. So my IGNITE project is about raising awareness and money to reinvent the branch as a welcoming building for communication but also a nice place to be for our volunteers.
I will now outline the remarkable history of Samaritans and outline what we do today;
Samaritans is a charity that was started in 1953 by vicar Chad Varah, who had previously taken the funeral of a fourteen year old girl who tragically took her own life after starting her periods and mistaking it for an STD. All because she had no one she felt she could talk to about it without them judging her. Wanting to prevent other such deaths and create an environment where people could talk freely and without fear of judgement, Varah developed the Samaritans.
Today Samaritans has a staggering 201 branches with extensively trained volunteers from different walks of life, stretching across the UK and offering totally non judgmental and confidential emotional support to EVERYONE who requests it. Our mission is to significantly reduce the number of people taking their own lives and absolve the ridiculous taboos surrounding mental health. Mental health and wellbeing is just as important as physical health and I know this because despite my multiple physical health problems I have only really suffered when my mental wellbeing hasn’t been on point.
Samaritans is an invaluable service which countless numbers of people have benefitted from. You can call them, give them a text, or visit your local branch. The address of the Grimsby branch is 55 Alexandra Road, DN31 1RD. Text: 077725 90 90 9. Call: 116 123. Calling or texting the Samaritans is free. Alternatively you can email drop them an email via jo@samaritans.org.uk! What a wonderful thing to be able to choose your own medium of contact!