It’s been a busy 10 months as Acting CEO of Lifeline North Coast, you may not have met me before, but I encourage you to pop into my office during business hours and say hello, unless I’m in a meeting, I like to make myself available to chat with anyone and answer any questions you may have.
If you don’t know my background, I have extensive experience in Communications/Business Development/Community Engagement and Stakeholder relationships, and I have been working at Lifeline NC for just over two years. I am incredibly passionate about our organisation and see firsthand how we help support the community both locally and nationally through the phone line.
I wish to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the incredible work all our volunteers are doing, both on the phones and in our retail shops and warehouse. The combined dedication and commitment have made a significant impact on our organisation and the lives we serve.
I am pleased to share with you that the Board of Directors, Ash Kady – Acting Services Manager and I have been working on developing a new strategic plan for our centre. This involves carefully considering our goals and objectives to ensure we continue to provide valuable services to our community. Our new plan places a special focus on Grant funding – identifying large and mid-range sources of funding that can assist with the development of our training, organising community events, and peer support within the community. It’s also incredibly important to the Board and Executive team that our people and the culture of our organisation encourages a sense of belonging, feeling supported, and to have an opportunity to share ideas and concerns in a safe way.
Our Annual community event, The Out of the Shadows walk, will be held on World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday 10th September. This year we are collaborating with various stakeholders to build on the success of last year’s event with activities, music, and information. The event promises to be an afternoon filled with compassion, understanding and a deep connection with our community. As part of this day, we are also looking to launch our Suicide Bereavement Support Group which is a much-needed support for families in our community that are grieving a loved one lost to suicide. I wish to thank and acknowledge the time and work that Amanda, Cathy, Marguerite, and Deb have volunteering their time and training as our facilitators.
I invite each one of you to save the date in your calendars, as we would love to have as many of our volunteers and team members present on such an important day. This event supports those families who have lost loved ones to suicide, have lived experience, and supports those in our community who struggle daily with suicidal ideation. Having your help provides an opportunity for us to lend a helping hand and connect with our community on a personal level. Your involvement and support lay a significant role in making this event a resounding success.
We understand the value of your time and the effort you put into volunteering at Lifeline, your dedication to our cause does not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for your contributions. It is through your exceptional work on the phones and in our retail shops that we can make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Your passion and commitment to help others serve as an inspiration to us all.
Angela Martin, Acting CEO
