BBC Radio Devon presenter and local personality David ‘Fitz’ FitzGerald revealed all at the local headquarters of the charity Samaritans - or at least, he revealed two new signs urging people in distress to ‘Talk To Us.’
Fitz was at the central Exeter base of the Exeter, Mid and East Devon Samaritans to unveil the vivid green signs. They help identify the building for people who want to have a face-to-face discussion instead of the more traditional telephone calls, emails and texts answered by the 100 volunteers who run the local branch of the service.
Leading local advice charity, Citizens Advice Exeter, has published its annual advice trend statistics for the year-ending 31st March 2016.
The charity has recruited 29 more volunteers over the last 12 months and this is reflected in the annual results, with the charity helping 36% more people with their advice and information needs since April 2015.
Chief Executive Steve Barriball said: “I congratulate and thank our volunteers for the work they do each and every day. With the introduction of Universal Credit, and other changes, there is more that we can do, and we will. I...
The RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat was found with broken bones, skinned and bound by twine lying dead behind a multi-storey car park on Brook Street in Tavistock, Devon.
A member of the public was horrified to find the mutilated body outside the Cooperative car park in the Devon town at 8.30am on Saturday 27 February and immediately called the RSPCA for help.
RSPCA inspector Lewis Taylor, who attended the grim scene, said: “This was a very strange and disturbing incident and we would really like to get to the bottom of what happened to this poor cat....
There’s no excuse for not knowing where the Exeter Mid & East Devon branch of Samaritans is based - it now has its own official ‘fingerpost’ signs in central Exeter.
One of the charity’s less well-known services to clients is face-to-face sessions at its premises on Richmond Road, near the famous Clock Tower in Exeter city centre.
“These sessions are for people who need someone to listen. People can call at the door from 10.30am until 9.30pm seven days a week, with no appointment needed” explains Helen Crossfield, director of the branch.
Leading local advice charity Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau is reporting that its new ‘Click or Call’ advice and information service has been a big success since it was launched in July, with more than 1000 calls answered in the last three months.
A further 176 people have used the new webchat facility, and a pilot email service has recently been launched.
The charity is asking that clients with access to the internet firstly click the on-line advice and information resources and factsheets available at citizensadvice.org.uk The website is available 24 hours a day. The...
If you have ever considered volunteering as a Samaritan, then clear your diary for the evening of Thursday, September 3.
That is the date of the next Open Evening being held by the Exeter Mid and East Devon branch of the charity, which relies entirely on volunteers to provide its telephone, email, SMS, letter and face-to-face listening service for those in distress.
The local branch currently has over 110 volunteers who help operate the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but there is always a need for more.
“Samaritans wouldn’t exist without volunteers. As...
Nearly a third of people in the UK say they don’t like to burden others with their problems, according to research for the charity Samaritans.
The figures, published today to launch Samaritans’ awareness raising #TalkToUs campaign, also reveal that more than 1 in 5 (21.4%) people sometimes feel overwhelmed by their troubles, but 1 in 9 (11.4%) feel they don’t have anyone to share them with.
Other barriers to opening up about what’s bothering us include:
• Feeling embarrassed (1 in 7 or 14.4%) • Feeling weak (1 in 10 or 10.2%) • Feeling judged (1 in 12 or 8.3%) •...
On Thursday 2nd July, Devon’s leading mental health charities and services will make their way to the stage at The Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter.
Representatives from Rethink Mental Illness, The Devon Depression and Anxiety Service, Recovery Devon, Time to Change and MIND will join Executive Producer Charlie Parker and Viki Browne to discuss HELP!
Award-winning actress, Viki Browne returns to Exeter with Ignite Festival sell out HELP! ; an engaging performance about her personal experiences of anxiety and depression. This touching and humorous performance uses striking imagery...
Viki is not coping. Taking you from the dairy aisle of Sainsbury’s to the green turf of Ascot, via a disco of dirty secrets with a euro-pop soundtrack; HELP! is about falling apart and pulling yourself together again. This moving, joyous show is for anyone who has ever struggled.
Award-winning performer Viki Browne returns to The Bike Shed with her collagic performance style which borrows from live art, stand-up comedy, spoken word and cabaret.
Age UK Exeter is proud to be working in partnership with Living Space Architects
The Exeter based company, who design housing for retirement, later life and adapted living, were moved to read about the new Budding Friends project set up by Age UK Exeter.
The project provides stimulating and engaging activities for people recently diagnosed with dementia and their families.
The project has taken on an allotment and needed a shed, both to store equipment and to provide shelter from the elements for the older people working outdoors.
