Cornwall Samaritans Approaches a Million

A charity that has helped to save and change lives in Cornwall for over 50 years has received grant funds of over half a million pounds to make significant changes to its facilities.

Samaritans of Cornwall at Truro has been awarded £495,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), alongside £15,000 from The Duchy Health Charity, to help transform and redevelop the building it owns at Treyew Road in Truro, alongside the construction of a new stand-alone training centre within its grounds.

The £495,000 investment comes from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Community Organisation Fund, which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.   

The Samaritans of Cornwall at Truro provides a listening service for adults and children in despair, with a vision that fewer people die by suicide, alleviating emotional distress and reducing the incidence of suicidal feelings through the simple act of listening.

The charity has helped to save and change lives in Cornwall for over 50 years and has now raised over £875,000 towards a total capital development target of just over £1million for vital capital work.

Centrally located in the county, the branch is easily accessible via major roads and public transport for volunteers, partners and service users; however, a 3-storey “town house”, the building itself is problematic, not fully accessible and no longer fit for purpose, so Cornwall Samaritans must undertake major capital work to secure its future, enable the charity to reach more beneficiaries, grow its services and make the charity more sustainable.

Sue Wilkins, (voluntary) Director of Cornwall Samaritans said:

“We are extremely grateful to The Duchy Health Charity and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for their kind support. These grants mean that work can now begin, with a completion target of next Spring. The developments will help us to reach those who need our services, and those that would like to volunteer with us, as well as enabling better partnership working. Our aim is to achieve an energy efficient, low maintenance, cost efficient Branch, to ensure expenses are controlled and that funds raised are focussed on the provision of service. We are so grateful to everyone that has supported our capital appeal to enable work to begin.”

Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy Louis Gardner, said:

“Community and place is an investment priority of the Shared Prosperity Fund, and this grant will enable the charity to reach more volunteers, partners and provide a vital service to the community. It will help the charity become more environmentally and financially sustainable with the new Training Centre set to enable partnership working with a greater number of other organisations whilst supporting the community.”

Barbara Vann, Chair of Duchy Health Charity said:

“Duchy Health Charity is delighted to help the Samaritans achieve their aim to refocus their essential work within a building which is fit for purpose. Duchy Health Charity applauds the Samaritans’ forward thinking and hopes to work with them again in the future.”

Sue added:

“As a local independent charity, we must raise all our own funds. We respond to over 20,000 calls for help each year via phone and webchat, feeding into a national network where the first available Samaritan responds. We have also brought awareness to approximately 100,000 adults and children through our proactive and preventative work with our community here in Cornwall over the past 12 months. Every contact has the potential to reduce the number of deaths by suicide, so it is vital that we continue our work and expand our reach. Our capital development will deliver a positive impact across all of our work, safeguarding our charity for the future.”

The charity hopes the changes will help attract new volunteers so that it can open more hours, embrace new technology and offer more outreach into the community, increasing volunteer numbers and diversity in all areas of Cornwall Samaritans’ work, enabling the charity to reach beneficiaries whenever and however they are needed.

To support Cornwall Samaritans’ capital appeal, or for further information, email CornwallSamsFR@gmail.com or visit www.samaritans.org/truro or www.twitter.com/CornwallSamari1