Trustees Fund Projects Supported

Samaritans exists to prevent suicide. Their network of branches across Wales brings together hundreds of volunteers who contribute to the UK helpline, ensuring anybody who is struggling can reach them 24/7,  year-round. This vital service is in huge and constant demand, with Samaritans Listeners answering 3 million calls a year, providing a human connection and a compassionate, skilled listening service that saves lives.

In addition to the helpline and online chat service, Samaritans Cymru volunteers support prison listener schemes in every Welsh prison, training inmates to provide an in-prison peer support listening service. They work with the rail industry to prevent suicides and support staff affected by incidents on the rail infrastructure across Wales. Their branches and volunteers also provide outreach services in their local communities – maintaining a regular presence in places and situations where they know suicide risk is high.

The Waterloo Foundation grant support has played a vital role in enabling Samaritans Cymru to establish and develop their distinct offer in Wales. Funding for the Community Development project has enabled them to play a full role in Regional Suicide Prevention forums and to engage fully in high-risk location groups across Wales, providing expert advice to prevent suicides. This project has created the capacity for Samaritans Cymru to create new partnerships with organisations supporting those most at risk, such as food banks, Job Centres and Housing Associations. The role is also critical in enabling coordination of their branch outreach activity, ensuring volunteer time is focused where risk is highest and the opportunity to prevent suicides greatest.

TWF funding also supported the creation of the South Wales Valleys Outreach hub – a new model of Samaritans service that focuses entirely on delivering in-person support to people at risk across the South Wales Valleys. The hub has innovated in delivering life-saving support in locations such as Police custody suites and hospitals, proving concepts and a structured approach to outreach provision that have since been adopted by other Welsh branches. TWF support for the EDI project also informed and improved Samaritans practice across the UK, with the findings from this research shaping charity-wide strategy on EDI and lived experience.