Sevenoaks Samaritans look back on a successful year of fundraising
Oasis were right when they said “Don’t look back in anger”! Here at Sevenoaks Samaritans, we are
looking back in pride and amazement at how much we have achieved in the past year. Still a
fledgling in the Samaritans’ nest, we have grown to over 100 Listening Volunteers, and raised vital
funds to ensure our continued presence in Sevenoaks. But we’ve done much more than that….
May 2022 saw our volunteers out and about at Sevenoaks Station supporting Mental Health
Awareness Week.
July saw us participating in the annual “SAMarathon” fundraising campaign – where we topped the
national fundraising table, thanks in no small part to the huge effort of one of our volunteers, Tom
Briody, and the £2k he raised with his 26-mile litter pick!
In September, we were back at Sevenoaks Station to talk to commuters on World Suicide Prevention
Day, as well as awareness raising at the Heavy Horse Show in Shoreham.
October was a big month for us as we celebrated our 2nd Birthday and, to mark the occasion, we
held a party at Bat and Ball Station. We were also out and about awareness raising, with a stand at
the District Council’s recruitment fair at the Stag Theatre, the Town Council’s Business Show at Bat
and Ball, and a market stall in the High Street. Phew!
November saw us supporting the Round Table on Bonfire Night and the Town Council at the
Christmas lights switch on as well as attending a quilt sale to raise funds. Our Jazz Quartet also
played at the station to bring a festive smile to commuters (at least, that’s what we like to think…!)
And 2023 is proving to be just as busy, with our volunteers attending Brew Monday events at Bat
and Ball Station and in Seal in January, while February saw us working with Sevenoaks Town FC to
raise awareness and support Football v Homophobia’s Month of Action. We have also visited local
foodbanks and put our banners up at local stations – have you seen them?
Looking ahead, Sevenoaks volunteers are making plans for Volunteers’ Week in June and Samaritans
Awareness Month in July, as well as joining in nationwide activities to mark the Samaritans 70th
anniversary this year.
But none of this would be possible without the generosity of the people of Sevenoaks and, of course,
our volunteers. Thank you!
If you would like to know more about how you can support us, or become a volunteer with us
(whether a Listening Volunteer or a Support Volunteer), please drop Olivia an email at
sevenoaks.recruitment@samaritans.org
