VOLUNTEER fund-raisers are needed to help fund the Samaritans? 24 hour service in South West Devon, East Cornwall and Plymouth.
The Plymouth branch has been open since 1972, providing confidential emotional help and support to people in the community.
Mary Sargeant, the director of Samaritans, Plymouth, said one of their great strengths was their 24 hour availability.
She said: ?We are here at the end of the phone when other agencies and services are closed.
?However, to do this we have to have a centre with telephones and volunteers, and money to run it.
?We accept reverse charge calls and call people back, so we have large telephone bills.?
It costs £26,000 each year to run the centre, which has to be raised by the volunteers, with no government funding.
Ms Sargeant said during the past 12 months they had responded to 32,978 contacts, 16,787 of whom were able to talk in depth about their feeling and 40% expressed suicidal feelings. The contacts were by telephone, e-mail and face-to-face.
?I am hoping there are some people out there who can help us with this,? Ms Sargeant said. ?We need people to shake a tin for us outside supermarkets, or perhaps get their friends together for a social event which could raise funds for us.?
There is an information evening at the branch at 20 Oxford Place in Plymouth on Monday, November 8 at 7.30pm. Alternatively, contact 01752 22166 for more details.