Our Scrapbook

2003 Events

Saturday 13th December:

Were you able to join us in Palfrey Park -  maybe you got to go home with a cuddly toy! A useful fundraiser for us, and as always good to get out and about and meet local folks.

Saturday 6th December:

We had a stall at the Pelsall Victorian Fayre with home made produce and a chance to win prizes. The weather was cold, but the welcome was warm. We look forward to attending more events in Pelsall.

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Thursday 20th November

Our annual branch party this year was brought forward to November, the month in which Samaritans took its first call fifty years ago. The date chosen had another significance, because it was on November 20th 1969 that Walsall and District branch first opened. The venue chosen was in Glebe Street, just yards from where the building that housed our first centre formerly stood.

Our Birthday Celebrations, attended by volunteers, their friends, families and supporters included a buffet, specially made cake in Samaritans green and white colours, prize draw, bar and disco.

Are Samaritans party people? Well these pictures are the evidence: 

To present a cheque for £1,600 to branch funds on behalf of Rosemary Knight, who raised this magnificent sum by doing a sponsored silence (see below) we were delighted to welcome her husband Dickie and daughter Kate.

Saturday 1st November

In Celebration of Samaritans 50th Birthday, former Samaritans volunteer and long-time friend and supporter of the branch Rosemary Knight undertook a sponsored silence at St Luke's Church Centre, Cannock. Rosemary  remained silent between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. She previously carried out a similar feat in aid of Samaritans in 1981, though it's not certain if the rumour that that's the only time she ever has been quiet is any more than malicious gossip!! Visitors came along and supported Rosemary's attempt with generous donations - £105 was collected on the day. It's hoped that when all the sponsorship money is collected in, funds raised will be well in excess of £500.

Later, in the evening, a team of ten ringers rang a full peal, consisting of 5039 Grandsire Caters, which if successful will take some 3 hours to complete. The bells at St Luke's are unique in that it is the only known church to have a bell dedicated to Samaritans.

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Caldmore Carnival

We would like to thank the organizers of Caldmore Carnival for inviting us to take part this year, and hope there will be many future events.

Bloxwich Carnival                              

The annual Carnival on August 9th saw a particularly warm and sunny day.

Recruitment Campaign Launch

Advertising on West Midlands Travel buses is a key part of our current drive to find new people interested in becoming volunteers with Walsall Samaritans. We recently held a media launch to raise awareness of our recruitment campaign. If you'd like to know more about becoming a Samaritan at the Walsall & District branch, click here.

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Health Promotion at WALCAT

Earlier this year we were pleased to be asked to help with a health promotion event being staged in connection with their course by two students at Walsall College of Arts and Technology. Their chosen theme was Depression.

Two Samaritans volunteers attended with display boards,  leaflets and publicity materials to add to an impressive array of material  which the students had  obtained from other organizations.

The stall attracted a lot of interest, and many people were happy to take away a selection of leaflets; predictably perhaps in a college, Samaritans pens and pencils went down very well! As well as information, there was a questionnaire to assess people's knowledge and ideas about depression, and also a prize draw, the proceeds of which were very kindly donated to our branch of Samaritans. The raised over £90 and we would like to thank them - and everyone who contributed - for their generosity.

An Evening with Carl Chinn

A Huge success - that's our verdict on the fundraising event held at Bloxwich Library Theatre on 23rd January 2003.

Local historian and broadcaster Professor Carl Chinn held a packed auditorium spellbound with his reminiscences of the Black Country in days gone by. Carl inspires his audience to share local knowledge and memories across the generations.

Ticket sales, raffle and refreshments raised a grand total of £706.80 to help us to be there for people in emotional distress. Our thanks to all who came, and, of course, to Carl Chinn.

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