We were pleased to present The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) with their Helplines Standard certification.

ISWAN is an international maritime charity which works to improve the lives of seafarers and their families with services, resources, strategies and advocacy.

Over the last six months Helplines Partnership has been working with its member organisations and BT to ensure Ofcom protect public call boxes which are used to call helplines.

The new changes announced by Ofcom mean that public call boxes are safeguarded from removal if there is evidence they are being used to make calls to one of Helplines Partnership’s member helplines.

It's Time to Talk Day today, which is an opportunity to get the whole nation talking about mental health. This year’s theme is ‘the power of small', because a small conversation about mental health has the power to make a big difference. We know, from our members, that many of them have seen an increase in the number of contacts to their service where mental health is mentioned or is involved.

Between April 2020 and April 2021, the National Emergencies Trust: https://nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/ raised £97m to support the local and national response to the pandemic by voluntary and community organisations across the UK. Most of these funds were allocated to local Community Foundations to support local responses.

In a year where there has been so much loss and change to our freedoms, nature has taken the opportunity to offer hope and show us the way to regenerate, restore and reconnect. Where communities became isolated and human connection decreased, we saw a shift in mental health to a new level.

Volunteering epitomises everything that is good about humanity. Individuals who manage and juggle their responsibilities whilst looking to give and help others goes unnoticed. This past year we were reminded about the good in people, how warm and selfless they can be in times of great uncertainty. Often when we receive kindness or someone's time without a return it can be taken for granted.

We talked to our member, The Bank Workers Charity (BWC) to learn more about the organisation, what they do and the difference they have made to people’s lives.

We talked to The Association of Charitable Organisations (ACO), the UK umbrella body representing charities that give grants to individuals, to learn more about how their members have helped armed forces personnel, veterans and their families and how to signpost people contacting your helpline to access their support.

Our member, GlobalARRK, is the only charity that specialises in supporting stuck parents worldwide. They talked to us about their work and the support they provide.

At this year’s Helplines Partnership AGM, our first-ever virtual AGM, we heard from Lydia Okroj and Zara Gilmour, in our member showcase. They shared how, as Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline they have responded to the pandemic, brought in huge helpline infrastructure changes and support their staff team’s wellbeing.

Helplines Partnership’s Director of Operations, Gemma Khairi talks about safeguarding, what it means for helplines and how now as many face-to-face services are suspended it is even more important to be alert.

Trustees' week recognises and celebrates the key role that trustees play in the governance and leadership of charities, volunteering their time and working together to lead the organisation and decide how it is run.

We would like to introduce you to our Board and explain a little more about why they chose to become Helplines Partnership trustees.