Strawberry 🍓 picking today

This #VolunteersWeek a huge THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who give their time to @samaritans 🙏💚 What you do really makes a difference.

What a day. Always feel so proud to see so many fantastic people running as #TeamSamaritans and great to see so many volunteers today too. Thanks runners and supporters💚🙏

London Marathon Day, I’ve loved the event since running it 20+ years ago and living on the route for 15 years, cheering along the extraordinary charity runners yearly. A HUGE shout out for the 300 SUPERSTAR Samaritans runners today. So many people with such compelling personal stories. 💚🙏

Good to spend some time in Dublin this week with colleagues from Ireland and Northern Ireland

Great to join Isle of White Samaritans over the weekend. Thanks 🙏 for having me 💚

I have marked my 56th birthday this weekend. On the one hand I think “what! 56??!! On the other I feel hugely grateful for this fulfilling life I have had and the good health I have enjoyed to date. It should never be taken for granted

Thanks to Putney Samaritans for hosting a visit with Baroness Merron to talk all things Mental Health 💚🙏

The regulator said fraudulent letters have been sent on its behalf to charities and trustees recently. The bogus letters usually ask charities to take actions such as removing trustees or chief executives, releasing funds as part of a grant or providing documents such as passports or utility bills.

Chief executives of sector umbrella bodies NCVO and @acevo.bsky.social have urged larger charities to engage in “generous” collaborations with smaller organisations

The announcement that NHS England will be abolished came as a surprise to many within the organisation itself A source close to Wes Streeting said the move had become "inevitable" over "the last few weeks" @zoecrowther.bsky.social goes inside perhaps the Labour government's boldest move yet 👇

A day on the road visiting Samaritans branches in Solihull, Walsall and Brierley Hill. Good to spend time with some of our wonderful volunteers 🙏💚

Blue sky and spring blossom #AndBreath

Pro-Ukraine protests erupt across US after Trump and Vance ‘ambush’ Zelenskyy

UK Prime Minister Starmer hugs Zelensky as he welcomes him to 10 Downing Street. This is how you welcome the leader of the free world.

I have an essay deadline approaching, have been sitting staring at a blank laptop screen for far too long!!🫣

The Civil Society Group has called on the government to prioritise long-term financial support for charities and their local commissioners as part of its ongoing spending review.

“The world’s richest man has decided that the world’s richest country shouldn't help some of the world’s poorest people”

Just leaving this here 💙 Today is #TimeToTalk Day, take action and share this post to remind others that it's okay to reach out for help 💭

If you’d like to apply for this job at our ‘ultra-progressive institution’ please visit the National Trust Jobs website. NB our member retention has remained higher than average throughout the cost of living crisis and visits & donations have increased. www.gbnews.com/news/nationa...

Here's the speech if you haven't heard it. 13 minutes of your time. Share it with your American friends and neighbours, because they won't see it otherwise. Circulate it in Mexico and Denmark, France and the UK, Panama and Germany, Poland and Estonia, and especially -- especially -- Ukraine.

Linking LGBTQ+ inclusion to paedophilia is a toxic and dangerous trope. Please take action to urge Sky to pull their ads from GB News: actionstorm.org/petitions/cu...

A long day of travels but great to spend time with Samaritans colleagues and visiting some fabulous volunteers in Aberystwyth 💚🙏

The first Two Humanists discussion is up - here I talk with friend and colleague @andrewcopson.bsky.social, Chief Executive of @humanists.uk, about 2 topical issues every 2 weeks! We discuss the inauguration of Donald Trump, and the Assisted Dying bill in the UK from a Humanist perspective. Enjoy!

📢 Our flagship Broken Plate will be published this week! It looks at the trends impacting the UK's food system and the actions needed from policymakers to ensure everyone can afford healthy and sustainable food. 👀 Keep an eye out on our socials for more... #BrokenPlate

Our CEO, Tom Lawson, is live on @bbc5live.bsky.social discussing the #CostofLivingCrisis and how financial insecurity is affecting millions of families. Tune in now to hear how we're working to provide practical solutions and fight for a fairer social security system: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

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Wow. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde fearlessly calls out Trump and Vance to their faces. This is heroic. (posting in 3 parts due to Bluesky's 1 minute limit)

Dear old persons of high net worth, please beware predatory marriage. You all think it would never happen to you, but then we all know someone... on.ft.com/3DJJsZB

Trump, Musk and Zuckerberg have declared war on facts and truth. The pushback must start now @emilybell.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

One reason (of many) why fewer families are able to become foster carers: Hotel of mum and dad at its fullest in two decades, study finds www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Stonewall responds to Meta's new policy changes ▶️ bit.ly/4aahB0N

🚨 Over 1.4 MILLION emergency food parcels were provided by food banks in our community in just 6 months. This is 69% higher than the same period 5 years ago. This can't go on and we refuse to stand by while so many of us are pushed to the brink, without enough money to live on.

Hollywood is on fire , yet still deniers clutch at straws to blame this on anything other than the real problem– climate breakdown . I’m petitioning for a ban on fossil fuel ads to take the fight to the companies who continue to exploit our fragile planet petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

Arty festive offering!!!

Enjoying my Christmas reading gifts💙

Enormous THANKYOU to the many @samaritans volunteers across & UK & Ireland who are giving their time over these Christmas days to ensure that there is always someone to listen should you need it. You are wonderful people, I am proud to be part of our Samaritans family 🙏💚

This sums it up, yes.

Christmas 🍿 movie time

An evening with some charity sector friends is food for the soul. Sharing challenges,sharing perspectives and advice. Laughing. Drinking some wine. And hugs. All I need.

Rather unbelievably it’s the ten year anniversary of my Desert Island Discs airing. Still one of the most nerve wracking things I’ve done! That ten years passed quickly😮

Been on the road visiting some of the fabulous @samaritans.bsky.social volunteers in Bury, Rochdale, Wigan and Bolton. Homeward bound a bit tired😴