Samaritans
Also known as the suicidal charity, is the oldest 24 hour telephone helpline in the UK and Northern Ireland.
More than 17,000 volunteers in 201 branches across the country give support to distressed people. They receive more than five million calls a year and yet the number of volunteers has been steadily falling since 1993.
Despite the statistics, young volunteers from all walks of life keep offering confidential, non-judgemental emotional support to people who need it.
They make a big commitment at the beginning of their career by giving up their time and energy to help people to cope with their darkest thoughts.
Established more than 50 years ago, the values of the charity and legacy of the founder, Chad Varah who died in 2007, live on in the new generations.
