Tag: 24/7

‘Because tomorrow’s too late’: Samaritans Awareness Day challenge urges public to share the weight

A former Samaritans helpline caller and current listening volunteer is urging the public to help him carry his 24.7kg ‘bag of worries’ as part of a series of events to mark this year’s Samaritans Awareness Day.  

The challenge – part of a wider initiative that has seen Andrew Baines Vosper ‘Share the Weight’ with the likes of broadcaster Gabby Logan and fitness coach Joe Wicks, as well as Rylan, Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Van Outen, Simon Squibb, Adam Woodyatt and Dr Alex George – has involved running at least 7km every day for 24 days in the lead-up to 24th July, all while carrying a 24.7kg weight on his back.

The ‘bag of worries’ serves as a powerful symbol of the emotional burdens many people carry in silence.  

Thursday 24th July 2025 is a moment to highlight the life-saving power of human connection, and to remind everyone that help is always available, 24/7. In the lead-up to the day, supporters are stepping up and taking on inspiring challenges to raise vital funds and awareness for the suicide prevention charity. 

In Scotland, Neil Beattie, a Shetland-based Council team-leader, will be taking on an Everest sized cycle and meeting Samaritans volunteers across Scotland’s towns and cities to raise funds for Samaritans Scotland.  

Neil’s challenge will take him from Shetland to Selkirk and back again, through some of Scotland’s toughest terrains on a two-week journey. Throughout the (roughly) 1200-mile cycle, Neil will accumulate a climb of more than 30,000 feet, higher than the world’s tallest mountain.  

Having completed charity bike rides previously, including from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and in Vietnam, this particular challenge holds a significant place in Neil’s heart.

Neil said:  “My mum was previously the Regional Director at Samaritans Scotland, and dedicated numerous years as a volunteer to the charity and their mission to see fewer deaths by suicide in Scotland.  

“Any donation, big or small will help someone with suicidal thoughts get help when they need it most.”  

Neil is set to depart from Lerwick on the 23rd of July, cycling to the ferry port where he will set sail for the mainland to continue his journey down through the country to the Borders, then heading up to Orkney and finally back to Shetland again, meeting with volunteers all along the way.  

A fundraising page has been set up here where you can make a donation to support Neil’s huge effort and the vital work of Samaritans Scotland.  By donating to Neil’s fundraiser, you are helping someone with suicidal thoughts to talk to somebody who will listen in their most difficult moments.  

These challenges over Samaritans Awareness Day spark meaningful conversations and reminds people that life’s burdens feel lighter when shared, and the tough climbs we face are easier when we break them down bit by bit.  

Support for Samaritans Awareness Day is thriving online, too. From 24-26 July, a number of content creators will be going live on platforms like Twitch and YouTube to celebrate Samaritans and raise vital funds. They’ll be connecting with their communities through gameplay, creative challenges, art, and more.  

The line-up includes streams from The Butterflies Stream Team, who are lending their support throughout the event, and popular creator Dawko, who will use his stream on 26 July to kick off his fundraising for the 2026 London Marathon.  

Together, these creators will spark important conversations around mental health and suicide, while raising awareness and funds through personal stories, community engagement, and unique online experiences.  

Neil Mathers, Executive Director at Samaritans Scotland, said: “Not everyone has someone they can talk to about how they’re feeling. That’s why on Samaritans Awareness Day, we are reminding everyone that they are not alone, and they have someone to turn to in us. 

“Our volunteers are here to lend a listening ear 24/7 to anyone in emotional crisis or feeling suicidal. We’re here for people in their darkest hour. Remember you can call our listening service on 116 123, any time of day or night.” 

Danielle Rowley, Head of Policy and Communications at Samaritans Scotland, said: “We know that people across Scotland struggle with suicidal thoughts and feelings and self-harm.  

“That’s why Samaritans Scotland is committed to reducing lives lost to suicide by working with the Scottish Government, COSLA, and partners across the sector as part of Creating Hope Together, the national suicide prevention strategy.” 

Getting involved 

Be it running, streaming, donating, or simply talking to a friend who’s having a tough time, you can help Samaritans be there for the people who need it most.  

This Samaritans Awareness Day, anyone can join in to prevent suicide today. Because tomorrow’s too late.  

How to get involved:  

HMRC: Hanging on the Telephone

5 reasons Self Assessment customers don’t need to wait on hold

Nobody enjoys having to wait on hold on the phone just to resolve a simple query – and those completing Self Assessment tax returns no longer need to, with more help and advice than ever before available online.

But many people, unaware of the extent of online support now out there, are still calling instead, often with questions that could be answered via GOV.UK.

Releasing details of the top 5 reasons people call the helpline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging everyone to check online when seeking help about their tax return, to get a much quicker and easier result.

HMRC received more than 5.5 million calls to the Self Assessment helpline last year, with 1.2 million calls in the 8 weeks leading up to the 31 January deadline. Around a third of these calls were routine or simple enquiries.

The most common calls to the Self Assessment helpline, which can be checked online are:

  1. Do I need to fill in a tax return?
  2. How do I fill in my online tax return?
  3. How do I check how much tax I owe?
  4. Where’s my Self Assessment tax refund?
  5. What happens if I can’t pay my tax bill?

Using HMRC’s online services means customers can access the information they need to resolve all of these questions quickly and easily – day or night – without the need to call HMRC.

Reason for calling the helplineOnline support
Do I need to fill in a tax return?Customers can use the online tool to check if they need to complete a tax return. They will need to answer a few simple questions and it will help them decide if they need to submit one.
How do I fill in my online tax return?Customers can complete their tax return online using HMRC online services. For help filling in the return follow HMRC’s YouTube videos, and use the helpsheets, notes and forms.
How do I check how much tax I owe?HMRC works this out for customers based on their completed tax return. They can easily check and pay any tax owed via the HMRC app or via the online service.
Where’s my Self Assessment tax refund?Use the where’s my reply tool on GOV.UK to check response times based on how and when the claim was made.
What happens if I can’t pay my tax bill?If customers cannot pay any tax owed in full, they can set up a payment plan, known as a Time to Pay arrangement.Interest will be payable on any outstanding payments after the deadline.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “There is no need to spend time waiting to speak to us. Using our online services for simple queries about your tax return means you can get the help you need quickly.

“We have a wealth of free resources and support online to help you complete your tax return. Search ‘help with Self Assessment’ on GOV.UK to find out more.”

There is guidance available on GOV.UK to help customers complete their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year ahead of the deadline on 31 January 2024. Anyone completing a tax return for the first time can use HMRC’s step-by-step guide which explains what they need to do.

Research undertaken by HMRC shows that 86% of its individual customers are open to engaging with HMRC digitally in the future. It is quicker and easier and has the additional wider benefit of enabling the department to focus more of its phone support on those with complex queries and those who are vulnerable.

Self Assessment customers can pay any tax owed via the free and secure HMRC app. Since April 2023, almost 100,000 customers have paid £121 million in tax via the app.

If customers cannot pay in full, HMRC wants to help them to find an affordable way to pay the tax they owe. They may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement and do this online without speaking to HMRC if they owe less than £30,000.

There is a new affordability assessment in the self-serve Time to Pay online service. Customers will be asked about their income and spending to calculate their disposable income and set up an affordable payment plan for them. 

For a full list of ways to pay any tax owed, visit GOV.UK.  

Customers need to be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

Round the clock children’s services to return at St. John’s

Round the clock paediatric inpatient services in St John’s Hospital will resume this Autumn, NHS Lothian announced yesterday.

The service will be reinstated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from October, to enhance the care already provided to children in West Lothian.

The details were agreed by NHS Lothian board members at their meeting yesterday (Wednesday August 12).

It means that inpatient paediatrics will be extended from functioning four nights a week, to seven days and nights by October 19.

Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said the children’s ward was now in a position to fully re-open after a number of new staff were recruited to the team.

Dr Gillies said: “We are really pleased that we are able to fully reinstate children’s inpatient services 24/7 in St John’s Hospital. It is testament to the teams who have pulled together to make this happen.

“We have always said that we could only restore the full service when it was safe and sustainable to do so and that has been our priority throughout.

“Parents and children will not have to do anything differently and many may not even notice a difference. However it does mean that patients who require to remain in hospital over a weekend will be able to do so at St John’s, instead of routinely being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.”

Two permanent Consultants and one locum have been recruited to the team at St John’s, following successful rounds of recruitment in June. A small number of ward nurse vacancies are in the process of being filled, meaning that staffing in the unit will be further strengthened.

The availability of Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioners has also increased, giving added resilience to the staffing rota.

The Paediatric Programme Board (PPB), which was established to help develop and implement a strategy to deliver safe and sustainable services, was told at its most recent meeting that the unit had sufficient cover to provide a safe and sustainable rota for out of hours and weekend shifts.

It was also agreed that the programme board will now be dissolved because it has fulfilled its remit.

It comes just weeks after the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health published its most recent review into the service and praised NHS Lothian for its “considerable and impressive efforts” to restore the 24/7 service.

NHS Lothian invited the RCPCH to return and undertake a second follow up review of progress since their original Review and Report in 2016. The visit took place in February 2020 and the College’s Report was received at the end of May 2020.

Parents and families are not required to do anything differently as a result of the change and will still access care in the normal way, through NHS 24, their GP or the Emergency Department.

If children are very sick or require specialist intervention, they will continue to be admitted to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in line with the normal protocols.