NEW mayor of Newport Councillor Ken Critchley yesterday launched his charity appeal to raise money for the Newport branch of the Samaritans, the charity that operates a 24-hour phone line forpeople contemplating suicide.
Councillor Critchley, who took over as Newport's first citizen on Tuesday, announced that the appeal had been given a great start with a £3,000 donation from Castle Bingo.
Specifically, the mayor wants his appeal to provide a new telephone system for Newport Samaritans, and he hopes he can also raise enough to allow them to open a charity shop to provide acontinuous income.
In launching his appeal at the Mansion House, Councillor Critchley said he had thought about dedicating his appeal to a number of national charities, but had decided to stay local and try to give the Samaritans a higher profile.
The Newport branch received more than 20,000 calls last year from people who were either suicidal or suffering from depression. They also received more than 700 e-mails.
The number for Newport Samaritans is 01633259000.
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