Mayor marks 50th anniversary of Samaritans in Coleraine
Alderman Mark Fielding met with representatives from the charity at Cloonavin where he handed over a special edition framed Coat of Arms to mark their service within the community.
Reflecting on 50 years of the Samaritans in the local area, the Mayor said: “I want to express my sincere thanks to all the volunteers who have served the charity through the years, providing a listening ear to the vulnerable and giving hope and reassurance to those in distress.
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Hide Ad“By devoting their time and skills, they have helped countless people and been there when it mattered the most. For this we should all be very grateful and my presentation is a symbol of our collective thanks for their role within our community.
“As a further expression of our gratitude and as a reminder about the Samaritans services, Cloonavin will be illuminated in green light again on December 21st. If you’re experiencing emotional distress, the Samaritans are there for you, 24 hours day, including Christmas Day. Please reach out to them if you need help.”
Last year volunteers in Northern Ireland answered over 11,000 calls for help over the festive period. While Christmas may be a happy time for many, it can be quite challenging for others, especially given the ongoing restrictions with Covid-19 and the impact of loneliness, bereavement, relationship and family problems, depression, abuse and drug and alcohol misuse.
Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, freephone 116 123 or email [email protected]. You can find out more by going to www.samaritans.org
The Cloonavin will light up in green on December 21 as a symbol of support for the charity.