UK retail co-operative OurCoop is marking two years of a partnership with Samaritans, the national charity that aims to provide emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide.
The partnership began in October 2024 following a vote involving 17,000 members – and since then, colleagues, members and customers have raised more than £650,000 through a combination of everyday customer donations and colleague fundraising. The amount raised is equivalent to helping Samaritans answer 65,000 calls from people in crisis.
Hannah Gallimore, social change manager at OurCoop, said: “Supporting our local community and those who need it most is at the heart of what we do as a co-operative. Our long-standing partnership with Samaritans is a powerful example of what our members, customers and colleagues can achieve together.
“Whether it’s a few pence donated at the till or time spent organising a community fundraiser, every contribution helps make sure someone is there to listen when people need the support most.”
The charity partnership is supported by micro-donations charity Pennies, which enables members and customers to round up or add a few pence to their purchases when paying by card, with the proceeds donated to Samaritans.
To mark Samaritans Awareness Day in July, the OurCoop colleague team at Codsall FoodCoop engaged with 85 members and customers during a dedicated session that shared information and promoted Samaritans as the charity that prevents suicide through the power of human connection.
Meanwhile, FuneralCoop colleagues at Cowley and Carterton funeral homes in Oxfordshire raised more than £1,500 through community fundraising activities, including a tabletop sale and an afternoon tea fundraiser with villagers in Marcham.
“Samaritans is here so that no-one has to face their darkest moments alone, and that is only made possible by partnerships like this, said Ghalib Ullah, assistant director of strategic partnerships at Samaritans, highlighting that the money raised has enabled the charity “to answer thousands of calls for help from people in crisis and provide a safe space where they will be listened to without judgement by our wonderful volunteers, no matter if it’s day or night”.
He added: “With one in four of us experiencing suicidal thoughts in our lifetime, Samaritans is a vital service needed both now and well into the future. We want to help more people in crisis and answer their calls more quickly – but we can’t do that alone. Thank you to everyone at OurCoop for their dedication over the past two years, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the next year of our partnership achieves.”
In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.
