A charity run by and for people who’ve lost loved ones to homicide will be able to help hundreds more Londoners thanks to new funding.
Support After Murder and Manslaughter (SAMM) is expanding its service thanks to a £100,000 grant from City Bridge Foundation – London’s biggest independent charity funder.
It will use the funding to train dozens of volunteers to support people to rebuild their lives, and run in-person group sessions in the capital.
City Bridge Foundation Chairman Giles Shilson said:
“The staff and volunteers who run SAMM have endured one of the most devastating things anyone can experience, which means they’re better placed than anyone to support those who’ve gone through the same thing.
“The way they turn such a painful and traumatic experience into a positive force to support others is truly inspiring and we’re delighted to be able to help them to help many more Londoners.”
SAMM was founded 35 years ago and is the only UK charity run by staff and volunteers who have experienced the trauma of losing a family member to murder or manslaughter.
That includes chief executive officer Jo Early, whose baby son, Charlie, died as the result of injuries inflicted by his own father in 2008.
SAMM CEO Jo Early said:
“Losing a family member through homicide is a very isolating experience. Your brain is so traumatised, you can’t think straight and the thing people say to us most often after receiving trauma support and education is ‘Thank God – I thought I was going mad’.
“We give people the tools to help themselves and the resilience to lift themselves out of victimhood and to see that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, even though it might be a very long road.
“People might come to SAMM within 48 hours of losing their loved-one, or after 10 years. They can come to us as often or as little as they need, until they reach the point where they don’t need our support anymore. It’s like a family.”
People can get support from SAMM by calling 0121 472 2912, texting 07342 888570 or via the website at www.samm.org.uk
