South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan helped the Ayrshire branch of the Samaritans get into the mood for their first ever Flag Day on 24 July 2006 by unveiling a specially branded taxi.

The 24 July date has been chosen to reflect the fact that people who are distressed, or need to talk to someone in confidence, can contact the Samaritan 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Representative volunteers of the Ayrshire branch gathered in the courtyard of the Council’s headquarters in Ayr to watch the Provost unveil the special taxi. Funding from the Scottish Government’s ‘Choose Life’ initiative was used to pay for the branding on the taxi.

Provost Sloan said: “The Samaritans do a tremendous job, by offering support to callers who are going through a difficult time in their life when they are maybe distressed, depressed or sometimes even feeling suicidal.

“Anything the volunteers are told is treated in the strictest of confidence, they do not judge people or offer advice, they are there to let the caller know that somebody cares and will give them support.”

On and around the date of the Samaritans national fundraising day on 24 July hundreds of events and fundraising activities will take place all over the United Kingdom. On 22 July six volunteers from the Ayrshire branch will be doing a sponsored climb up Ben Lomond. On 23 July three volunteers from the branch will travel in the branded taxi to a ‘24/7 Gathering’ in Falkirk, which is taking place to highlight the work of the Samaritans.

The Samaritans rely on donations from members of the public to fund their organisation and the ‘Friends of the Samaritans’ who organise fundraising events for their local branch.

Anyone can contact the Samaritans by telephoning 08457 90 90 90 or 01563 531313 or email jo@samaritans.org. Further information about the Samaritans can be obtained by logging on to www.samaritans.org.

Pictured with the newly branded taxi are (left to right) Philip Campbell, Taxi Driver, Alex Thomson, Samaritan Volunteer, Cathy Gibson, Samaritan Volunteer, Provost Winifred Sloan, Ann Beck, Chair of the Ayrshire Branch of the Samaritans and Ainzlie McMaster, Samaritan Volunteer.

July 2006