Announcing our new charity partner... Samaritans!

This Samaritans Awareness Day, we are very excited to announce Samaritans as our new charity partner. As voted for by you, our Members and colleagues, we will officially begin raising funds and awareness for the charity from October.

You may remember in March this year, we began our search for a new charity partner. Committed to creating a sustainable Society for all, we invited national and regional registered charities to participate in a transparent, democratic process to nominate themselves for this unique opportunity. Guided by the voices of our Members, we focused our search on organisations dedicated to mental health support.

After an extensive search involving hundreds of applicants and almost 17,000 Member votes, we are thrilled to reveal that Samaritans has been chosen to be the Society’s new charity partner.

Samaritans’ exceptional volunteers provide a safe and non-judgemental space for individuals to discuss whatever challenges they are facing. Every 10 seconds, a Samaritans volunteer answers a call for help. Last year alone, Samaritans spent over 900,000 hours responding to calls, demonstrating the immense dedication and impact of their work. With over 200 branches and locations across the UK and Ireland, Samaritans relies on the public’s donations and the support of around 23,000 volunteers to continue their vital services.

Hannah Gallimore, our Social Change Manager, comments: “We are incredibly excited to announce Samaritans as our new charity partner. Our Members made it clear that mental health support is a priority, and we listened. We recognise the critical importance of Samaritans’ life-saving support, particularly in today’s challenging times. With branches right across the UK, we’re keen on supporting Samaritans on both a national and local level within the communities we serve. We can’t wait to get started!”

Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans, adds: “We are thrilled to be chosen by Central Co-op Members as their charity partner. It is thanks to partnerships like these that Samaritans can continue to be there for anyone struggling to cope, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s the perfect way to mark Samaritans Awareness Day today and we look forward to achieving great things together.”

The date, 24th of July, represents how Samaritans are available 24/7 to provide support to those in need. When life is difficult, Samaritans are there to listen day or night. Call them for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.