Charities care this Christmas
With Christmas only a few days away, most people’s thoughts will be on turkey collections, last minute shopping and present wrapping to ensure the Big Day runs as smoothly as possible.
For the charities Lifeline, Samaritans and Childline, however, all thoughts will be on the many people across Britain who will not be enjoying Christmas this year.
“Christmas is a very happy time but, for some of us, it can be a time of loneliness and isolation,” said Suzanne Costello, director of Samaritans Ireland.
Samaritans offers a 24 hour phone-line for those who simply need someone to talk to about their distress. Samaritan volunteers will listen to any caller unconditionally, offering support and guidance whenever asked.
Samaritans, along with Lifeline and Childline, are staying open throughout the festive period. Volunteers are expecting to deal with up to 8,000 calls for help over Christmas.
Lifeline lets you speak directly to qualified crisis counsellors who also offer up to six free face-to-face sessions at a location convenient to you.
NSPCC’s Childline too relies heavily on the kindness of volunteers. They will be giving up part of their Christmas holiday to be there for children who need help with bullying, abuse or family relationship issues.
Christmas can be a difficult time for many of us. Charity counsellors are always there to help those most in need.
If you feel that you have issues you need to address over a longer period of time, you can use our directory to locate a qualified counsellor near you.
For the charity phone numbers and to view or comment on the original article, visit UTV.