Charity Unveils £1.3Million of Improvements to Serve Community

A much-respected charity based in Cornwall that is at the heart of mental health support and reducing the number of deaths by suicide has celebrated the completion of a major capital development of its premises today, amounting to £1.3million.

The Samaritans of Cornwall at Truro started work last year on the building owned by the charity on Treyew Road in Truro, which was no longer fit for purpose.

The charity, which is run entirely  by volunteers with no paid members of staff, recognised significant changes to the building were needed to improve accessibility for all and therefore ensure the continued operation of the charity.

Sue Wilkins, (voluntary) Director of the Samaritans of Cornwall at Truro explains:

“Samaritans of Cornwall has helped hundreds of thousands of people, for more than half a century, thanks to the dedication of committed volunteers who  deliver its services from the building in Truro. The charity purchased the property over 50 years ago, but the layout being over many floors meant it was not accessible to all and thus did not meet the needs of the charity. An  exciting but challenging journey to raise the funds necessary to make essential and major structural changes was undertaken so the building better-serves the charity, whilst adding a much-needed new Training Centre building.

Sue continued:

“An independent charity, Samaritans of Cornwall receives no funding from a national office, or statutory funding, historically relying on income raised by the wonderful stall at Par Market – again run entirely by dedicated volunteers - and fundraising activities undertaken to meet running costs. A capital project costing over £1million was a huge challenge, but one that the charity rose to, thanks to donations and the support of significant grants which included: £495,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund* (SPF), £36,817 from The Duchy Health Charity, £125,000 from The Edward Gostling Foundation, £35,000 from Garfield Weston Foundation, £75,000 from the Wolfson Foundation, £50,000 from Bernard Sunley Foundation, £25,000 from Beatrice Laing Trusts, £500 from the Cornish Freemasons and support from Project Giving Back. We cannot thank supporters enough - they have enabled us to transform our facilities, and we are grateful to RRL for sponsoring our grand opening today so that we can celebrate with all involved.”

The charity celebrated the completion of the works at a grand opening today (Saturday 3^rd May) which was attended by over 100 people, many of whom have been involved in delivering the project.

The development works will ensure accessibility to an energy efficient, low maintenance, cost efficient Branch, ensuring expenses are controlled and that funds raised are focussed on the provision of service; a new Training Centre will enable greater partnership working with other organisations embedded in Cornwall, as well as being available to other charitable ventures for private hire.

The changes and accessibility of the building will help the charity to attract new volunteers, increasing numbers and diversity in all areas of Samaritans of Cornwall’s work, enabling the charity to open more hours, embrace new technology and offer more outreach into the community.

A local, independent, registered charity, 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.

Samaritans of Cornwall responds to over 20,000 calls for help each year via phone and webchat, feeding into a national network where the first available Samaritan responds; The charity also brings mental health awareness to adults and children through its proactive and preventative work with the community in Cornwall.

Every contact has the potential to reduce the number of deaths by suicide, so it is vital that Cornwall Samaritans continues its work and expands its reach; The capital development will deliver a positive impact across all of the charity’s work, safeguarding it for the future.

To support Samaritans of Cornwall, book its Training Centre, or for further information, email CornwallSamsFR@gmail.com or visit www.samaritans.org/truro

*This project has received £495,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.