Samaritans receive recycling cash

I like win/wins and this is one, for sure: 

The Ipswich & East Suffolk branch of the Samaritans has an extra £4,500 to invest in its facilities – thanks to a national recycling scheme supported by Ipswich Borough Council.

After each cremation, and with the agreement of the family, the metals from the coffin, along with orthopaedic implants, are recycled. The scheme is endorsed by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.

A cheque for £4,487 was presented to volunteers at the Samaritans office in St Helen’s Street by Councillor Sophie Meudec, the Borough Council’s portfolio-holder for Bereavement Services.

Councillor Meudec said: "We strive to prevent metals that are left following a cremation from being unnecessarily buried and posing a threat to the environment. It is always going to be a sensitive issue, so we are part of a national recycling scheme that enables us to nominate organisations for a donation as all of the proceeds go to bereavement-basedcharities. I am a great supporter of the work done by the Samaritans and I am sure that bereaved families would be reassured to know that this money is supporting such an important and worthwhile cause that brings comfort and support to so many people."

Alison, Committee Chair of the Ipswich & East Suffolk Branch of Samaritans, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this donation. Samaritans are totally dependant on fundraising and donations like this really help to keep us running. We particularly appreciate this donation as it is very timely.  The doors that partition our training room are very old and urgently need replacing.  It is vital that all our volunteers are fully trained to take on the responsible and privileged role of supporting people in distress and without adequate training facilities this would be very difficult.”

The Samaritans have more than 20,000 volunteers across the country and offer confidential, non-judgmental support to people in distress and despair. The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The Ipswich & East Suffolk branch opened in 1963 and has 87 volunteers. It received more than 13,000 telephone calls last year alone and responded to 2,600 emails and text messages. The branch also runs a charity shop in Carr Street, which specialises in second-hand books