Buckley Hall donates £1,000 to local Samaritans

The Buckley Hall Charity Committee has made a donation to Samaritans

A £1,000 donation has been made by the Buckley Hall Charity Committee to assist the Oldham/Rochdale Branch of the Samaritans, following a recent appeal from the branch.

Donna Towse, one of the Custodial Managers at Buckley Hall Prison, said: “We saw the appeal from the Samaritans Branch Director Moira Purves regarding their dwindling funding, due to the lack of opportunities to raise much-needed money during the Covid-19 crisis and we were keen to help.”

The Samaritans deliver a vital service to Buckley Hall and across the whole prison service in the form of the ‘listeners’” scheme, a peer-support scheme using Samaritans guidelines to provide confidential emotional support to fellow prisoners.

The listeners scheme aims to reduce the number of self-inflicted deaths in custody, reduce self-harm and help to alleviate the feelings of those in distress.

Ms Towse continued: “Throughout the year, our prisoners and staff come together to raise money to assist charities and people in need through various joint ventures, ventures such as a Christmas Jumper Day, sponsored row and a sponsored head shave.

“We knew we needed to offer assistance to the Samaritans at a time where people are socially isolated and may need additional emotional support.”