Valerie Opens Walsall Samaritans Awareness Day

On Saturday 23^rd July 2011 Valerie opened the Walsall Samaritans awareness day at the New Art Gallery and unveiled the artwork, ‘A Call for Help’.

 
Valerie said:
“It is a privilege to open the Samaritans Awareness Day at the New Art Gallery. The event is an excellent way for Walsall Samaritans to make more people in the town aware of their vital work offering emotional support to people in need.”

“I am also delighted to unveil the artwork ‘A Call for Help’ by Lynn Hughes, a local artist from Aldridge, who studied foundation art at Walsall School of Art.  Lynn Hughes donated her artwork free of charge – the work has been used by the Samaritans to create a national artwork, made up of prints from Samaritans branches, to mark their national awareness day on 24^th July: 24:7.”

“A print of Lynn’s striking charcoal drawing forms part of a national artwork unveiled at the Royal College of Art, London on 22nd July as part of the 24:7 awareness campaign.”

“Walsall Samaritans was set up in 1969 and is staffed and managed entirely by volunteers and paid for by donations.  For each of the last three years Walsall Samaritans have seen an increase in contacts.  In 2010, 18,900 contacts were made with the branch.”

“It is important to recognise the commitment of these volunteers, and to raise awareness of the Samaritans’ vital service which provides confidential, 24-hour emotional support, available to everyone, every day of the year.”

For the Walsall Samaritan website click here .

 For more information about Lynn Hughes and her work click here .