Samaritans Bring Christmas Cheer To Beverley East Yorkshire

The Samaritans have expressed their thanks to shoppers in the East Yorkshire Market Town, Beverley after they raised over £600.

The Samaritans’ purpose is to be there for people struggling to cope in times of crisis. Given the current pressures, millions are facing they say it is as vital as ever.

A group of listening volunteers raised from Hull Samaritans raised the money. They sang carols on Toll Gavel on Sunday 4 December and raised an incredible £648.92 for the branch.

“We cannot thank people enough for their generosity”, said Director Tony Rheinberg, “Hull Samaritans are run totally by volunteers and we have to raise all our income ourselves.”

“The money that has been donated will all be used to keep the branch running, so we are there for anyone who is struggling and want to call us.”

Every day Samaritans respond to around 10,000 calls. The charity’s vision is to reduce the number of people who die by suicide and help those struggling to cope.

The charity says they need to keep adapting and innovating, to provide a safe space for all who need them in the coming decades.

To achieve their vision that fewer people die by suicide, they also need to do more to broaden their impact in society, working with others to make a change that saves lives.

Suicide Rates Increase According To Samaritans

5219 suicides were registered in 2021 which is 307 more than in 2020 according to the charity. Women were less likely to take their own lives based on the latest figures.

Of those who took their own lives, it was men aged 50-54 who had the highest suicide rate. The North East of England again had the highest rate of suicides recorded by the charity.

The number of young people who took their own lives also increased. Figures show a 25% increase in the number of 15-19 years olds who committed suicide.

Samaritans are available all day, every day on 116123