CHESHIRE’S Chief Constable, Mark Roberts, has donated £10,000 to Warrington-based Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide on behalf of the Constabulary.
The donation rounded off a week which saw Cheshire Constabulary spreading £50,000 of Christmas Cheer to charity and community groups across the county.
From domestic abuse charities who man round-the-clock helplines and provide emergency accommodation for vulnerable people and their families, to youth centres and sports clubs who provide young people with a safe space to pick up new hobbies or make friends, to organisations that help former servicemen and women re-entering civilian life, these groups provide vital support to those who need it most and put the needs ofresidents and communities first.
Mr Roberts and representatives from the Constabulary acting on his behalf have visited four organisations across the county making donations.
Founded in 1997 by a group of bereaved parents who had lost their children to suicide, Papyrus aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.
Since then, Papyrus has grown into a UK-wide charity with staff in Warrington, South West England, West Midlands, London, Northern Ireland, North Wales, South Wales, and Scotland.
The charity’s confidential helpline service, HOPELINE247, also provides practical advice and support to young people with thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned about a young person who may have thoughts of suicide.
HOPELINE247 is staffed by trained professionals, offering a telephone, text and email service.
The Chief Constable said: “Whilst Christmas is a time where we come together with our families and friends to reflect on the year that has passed, not everyone has that support network they can reach out to in what can be a very busy and emotionally overwhelming time of year for some.
“The team at Papyrus provide a vital service for the young people of Cheshire, not just at Christmas, but all year round through breaking down the stigmas surrounding mental health and providing practical support, empathy and a non-judgmental ear to those who need it the most.
“Their team at HOPELINE247 in particular do, quite literally, take lifesaving calls every single day of the year and, knowing what our own colleagues in the Force Control Centre deal with on a daily basis when speaking to the general public, I know that those calls and conversations can be emotionally taxing and require a great deal of strength and compassion to maintain.
“Which is why I am thrilled to provide the team at Papyrus in Warrington with a donation of £10,000 on behalf of the Constabulary. This donation is our way of saying thank you for all the crucial work they do with the young people of Cheshire and will support them in that work into 2026.”
Ged Flynn, chief executive of Papyrus, added: “We are very grateful to the Chief Constable for presenting a cheque on behalf of Cheshire Constabulary and for his appreciation of the vital support we provide for children and young people who are struggling with life.
“Donations help to pay for potentially lifesaving calls, texts and emails to our confidential HOPELINE247 service, which offers support and advice to young people and anyone who is worried about someone may be having thoughts of suicide.
“Funding also helps us to engage with local communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and supports the training we deliver to individuals and groups, equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.
“We believe that many young suicides are preventable and together we can all help to keep our communities suicide-safe.”
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice contact HOPELINEUK247 on 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
