Last Year saw significant changes with the Samaritans Team in Spain. An ambitious programme of change was introduced and successfully implemented.

Changes were needed as the then current President, Ed Purcell, and the Treasurer Michael Hyland, were due to retire after a significant number of years in post. The Organisation also needed to be modernised and new ways of supporting our Clients throughout the whole of Spain needed to be introduced.

These changes were introduced and managed by the newly appointed President Lynda Brettle.

It has taken a Year to effect the changes which begs the question to Lynda as to “how and why did you get involved in charity work in Spain?

Lynda answered “Around 2005 a neighbour and his wife were the President and Press Secretary of Help Vega Baja and my then husband assisted them in setting up the in-house legal advice surgery, while I joined the hospital visiting team for a few years.

After that I also helped out with some fundraising for Paul Cunningham Nurses before joining Samaritans 5 years ago. There are so many worthy causes and all the organisations do an amazing job. I am proud now to be part of a Nationwide Charity that offers a free emotional support service, staffed by Trained Volunteers, to any English speaker in distress anywhere in Spain and the Islands.”

Introduced as part of Lynda’s changes are new methods of communicating with Clients (including WhatsApp), Satellite Branches throughout Spain to be closer to people, and innovative Fundraising methods. So Samaritans is in a very good position this coming year to support the people in the whole of Spain that need their support services.

To Contact Samaritans : You can call Samaritans on Freephone 900 525 100 Email us at pat@samaritansinspain.com Or Call 634 325 906 to organise an appointment for a WhatsApp call.