Samaritans is our chosen charity partner

Emotionally supporting communities

Giving back is part and parcel of our culture and aligns with our purpose to help people secure a life of possibilities. We're proud to partner with Samaritans Ireland who offer support, tools, resources and services to prevent people reaching crisis point. Our teams help with fundraising and volunteer their time, and our organisation matches and donates funds raised by our colleagues.

About Samaritans

Samaritans have volunteers available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help people look after their own mental and emotional health and wellbeing, build resilience and support others. 

Every seven seconds, Samaritans respond to a call for help and listen without judgement or pressure.

• Established in Ireland in 1961, there are now 21 branches across Ireland with more than 2,000 volunteers.
• Samaritans are an evidence-based organisation, developing policies and positions through extensive research and a human rights basis.
• Samaritans show the power of human connection.

How we help

We choose our charity partners ensuring our colleagues are supportive, then organise fundraising activities, skill-sharing opportunities and volunteering services that support them. 

Standard Life’s donations support Samaritans by helping them recruit and train more listening volunteers. They can maintain their services and ensure volunteers are there to listen 24/7. Samaritans benefit from the combined fundraising efforts of our people and our company, as Standard Life matches funds raised by colleagues. Everything we raise goes directly to Samaritan’s services.

Supporting our communities

We support our communities in a number of ways. Direct fundraising and donations in kind, skill sharing and volunteering our services. We benefit too as our involvement with other organisations gives our people and our company the chance to develop new skills and knowledge that help us grow as an organisation. 

We also support our colleagues in their commitments within their personal communities. Our volunteering policy allows paid time off during which our people can continue that valuable work. 

As well as supporting the charity financially, colleagues within Standard Life's Vulnerable Customer Team have attended courses delivered by Samaritans Training and Engagement Programmes (STEP) on how to spot the signs and support someone who might be struggling to cope.