What is the collective noun for Samaritans? Well how about, The Samaritans. On Saturday 16th April we had the chance to find out, as we were joined by Michael and Claire from The Samaritans at the March Oasis meeting.
Michael gave us an overview of this wonderful organisation, its history, its development and growth, and how it works in modern-day Britain. All the Samaritan volunteers do an amazing job, and they are there for us all 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 12 months a year. The Samaritans are available to us if we are feeling a little lost, lonely, or on a day when you simply want to talk to another human being. Simply pick up the phone and dial 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org, or chat online or drop-in at your local branch (which you can also find online). Thank you, Michael, thank you, Claire, thank you, Samaritans.
In addition to Michael and Claire, we were delighted to welcome Kerry and Sarah from Dereham Does Pride (July 6th, Oasis will be there!), Emma from the Norfolk LGBT+ Project, Steph and Jane times two, Dee’s friend Louise, Jamie Oliver, the AA Man who fixed Amy’s Tyre, and our very own ‘Tail-End Charlene’ Samantha, who travels the furthest and has the worst deal in the car park. Thank you, Sam, for moving your car twice. We’re going to need that bigger car park!
During a busy meeting, it was a delight to find a room full of good Samaritans; kind and generous people who contributed to raising £81 for The Samaritans in our ever-popular raffle. In fact our Oasis good Samaritans work happily together like the members of a communist collective farm, such is our collective identity. Wonderful, and the Oasis food is better. We have the set-up crew, the wash-up gang, the clear-up battalion, the library lady and the lock-up lovelies. So, deep breath, special thanks go to Serena, Billie, Petra, Hana, Jane, Emma (her first visit and Emma has her sleeves rolled up within 5 mins), Tina, Louise, and all of you that pitched in. The lock-up lovelies? Jaqui and Andrea for holding my hand, helping check that the hall was suitable to lock the door and make sure I went home.
The library lady? Serena; who introduced us to a new Oasis innovation, the Oasis library. Our little library will be open for business at each meeting, with the possibility of borrowing a selection of Trans focused books from meeting to meeting. The library contains some classic texts, like Conundrum, and is open to borrowers each meeting. Please feel free to make donations to our collection, and don’t forget to return the books. Th Oasis fines can be punitive!
Time to close the doors on another Oasis and start to plan for the next on April 20th, when John Lewis is coming to town. Hopefully, I will see you then; it’s going to be good
Jamie Oliver? His sauces gave the curries that certain je ne sais quoi.
Be good, much love
Lilly
xxx
PS don’t forget that you can always raise money for The Samaritans by visiting at or donating to their wonderful charity shops, which can be found in a High Street near you. You maybe aware that The Samaritans’ shop in Norwich, ‘Sams in the City’, has recently relocated within Westlegate to a rather plush new shop or if you find yourself in the Barnardos shop in King’s Lynn you might find that one of the assistants looks rather familiar.
oasis norfolk 