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Every year I try to give a little money to charity. I feel guilty about the fact that I love my job so much, and spend so much time drinking tea or coffee in my underpants when everyone else is rushing around in offices.

This year’s charity is the Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Samaritans “New Room” appeal. They’re working to raise £60,000 to build new training facilities and visitor’s room. I don’t live or work near Ealing, Hammersmith or Hounslow, but I know the person raising the money, and it’s an incredibly worthwhile cause. I’ll let him explain why:

Why are Samaritans here?
- One in ten teenagers is affected by depression
- Samaritans receives contact from someone in distress every seven seconds - which comes to 4.6 million a year. 64,000 of these contacts are made by email
- 38% of people admit to feeling depressed by stresses from work, family or finances. One in ten feels so lonely and isolated they think there is no one they can turn to for help
- One in four of us knows someone, personally, who has died by suicide
- Two young people self-harm every hour in the UK. 427 people self-harm every day

Our vision is for a society where fewer people die by suicide. Please help us turn that into a reality.
Why you are so important?
By donating today, you will help us better reach the communities we serve - over 1 million people who live and work in west London. With better facilities, we can create more qualified volunteers than ever before, and we can support more callers as and when they need us - day and night.

I’ve been affected by depression myself and know lots of other people who have. It’s well recognised that “talking therapies” are the most effective long-term method of dealing with depression and while the Samaritans can’t give everyone the therapy that they need, with NHS resources over-stretched and long waiting lists they play an incredibly important - and life-saving - role. Which is why they’ve got what little I can give and why I’m asking you, my clients and suppliers and friends, to give what you can as well. Go to http://www.justgiving.com/newroom to donate now, securely, online - and don’t forget if you’re a UK tax payer you can give gift aid and make your donation go a little further.