Cash crisis for Blackburn charity 'lifeline'

2:00pm Saturday 2nd February 2013 in News

A BLACKBURN ‘lifeline’ charity has said it is down to its last few months’ rent.

Blackburn Lighthouse, a sympathy listening service, features a team of volunteers who fear their services are in danger.

The team, which provide a sympathetic ear to people who have no one else to talk to, said it can only pay for their base for another two months.

Founders Kathleen Barlow and Susan Haresceugh have helped hundreds of people over the past three years.

Now they are launching a bid to persuade 70 supporters to donate £4 a month which would cover the charity’s rent at their base in King Street, Blackburn.

Kathleen, 60, of Feniscowles, said: “It’s so important that we keep going.

“We have been doing marvellous work with people who just want someone to listen to them.

“It would be such a great shame if it stopped because we didn’t ask for help enough.

“I set this up because when I was diagnosed with epilepsy there was no one to talk to about it. I didn’t need anything else except someone who was willing to listen.”

Susan, 68, said: “It is so rewarding, it is difficult to describe how much.

“Some people come to us feeling absolutely hopeless and before long you begin to see changes.

“People tell us they have found themselves a course they are studying, or they’ve got a part time job. It is wonderful to see people flourish just because they had someone to listen to them.”

The service can be accessed by phone and people are also free to drop in for ‘tea and sympathy’ at the King’s Court base.

Kathleen said: “When people come to the Lighthouse, they see the cosy room and realise it’s not like counselling.

“We make a brew, people relax and feel more at home. We just want to listen and encourage people to have confidence in themselves to cope”.

Anyone who would like to either offer support or needs someone to talk to can contact Blackburn Lighthouse on 01254 296078 or Kathleen on 07954 152721

Comments (12)

2:28pm Sat 2 Feb 13

jimpy0 says...

supprt gays and lesbians and illegals then apply for council/government funding
supprt gays and lesbians and illegals then apply for council/government funding jimpy0

3:00pm Sat 2 Feb 13

2 for 5p says...

It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.
It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use. 2 for 5p

8:16am Sun 3 Feb 13

witton13 says...

And these comments confirm to me the ignorant, selfish, bigoted attitude that makes blackburn such a depressing place to live.
And these comments confirm to me the ignorant, selfish, bigoted attitude that makes blackburn such a depressing place to live. witton13

9:08am Sun 3 Feb 13

2 for 5p says...

witton13 wrote:
And these comments confirm to me the ignorant, selfish, bigoted attitude that makes blackburn such a depressing place to live.
Well if you dont like the attitude of the town MOVE.
[quote][p][bold]witton13[/bold] wrote: And these comments confirm to me the ignorant, selfish, bigoted attitude that makes blackburn such a depressing place to live.[/p][/quote]Well if you dont like the attitude of the town MOVE. 2 for 5p

9:22am Sun 3 Feb 13

witton13 says...

Excellent comeback. You're assuming I live there
Oh and wassy isn't a word.
Excellent comeback. You're assuming I live there Oh and wassy isn't a word. witton13

10:27am Sun 3 Feb 13

Fire Fly says...

jimpy0 wrote:
supprt gays and lesbians and illegals then apply for council/government funding
Perhaps you could set up a charity to assist those who read something, which then totally bypasses their brain & results in comments completely off topic??

I'd suggest factoring in people such as 2 for 5p...being charitable, I suppose we should make allowances for him as his brain never formed, leaving him with a type of moronic turrets which results in these repetitive outbursts of inane drivel.
[quote][p][bold]jimpy0[/bold] wrote: supprt gays and lesbians and illegals then apply for council/government funding[/p][/quote]Perhaps you could set up a charity to assist those who read something, which then totally bypasses their brain & results in comments completely off topic?? I'd suggest factoring in people such as 2 for 5p...being charitable, I suppose we should make allowances for him as his brain never formed, leaving him with a type of moronic turrets which results in these repetitive outbursts of inane drivel. Fire Fly

10:29am Sun 3 Feb 13

Fire Fly says...

2 for 5p wrote:
It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.
I feel this is an excellent suggestion in your case as I don't think there is enough money in the world to pay someone to listen to you my love. God bless brick walls!
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.[/p][/quote]I feel this is an excellent suggestion in your case as I don't think there is enough money in the world to pay someone to listen to you my love. God bless brick walls! Fire Fly

8:40pm Sun 3 Feb 13

Jack Herer says...

2 for 5p wrote:
It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.
You have the strangest attitude for a public servant.

The milk of human kindness doesn't exactly flow freely from you does it?
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.[/p][/quote]You have the strangest attitude for a public servant. The milk of human kindness doesn't exactly flow freely from you does it? Jack Herer

8:43pm Sun 3 Feb 13

Jack Herer says...

witton13 wrote:
And these comments confirm to me the ignorant, selfish, bigoted attitude that makes blackburn such a depressing place to live.
Sadly true.

There was a story in this paper not long ago about £50,000 in lottery funding being awarded to gays and lesbians in Burnley to investigate their own history. I mean seriously wtf when worthwhile charities like this one are suffering.

It's a nutty world.
[quote][p][bold]witton13[/bold] wrote: And these comments confirm to me the ignorant, selfish, bigoted attitude that makes blackburn such a depressing place to live.[/p][/quote]Sadly true. There was a story in this paper not long ago about £50,000 in lottery funding being awarded to gays and lesbians in Burnley to investigate their own history. I mean seriously wtf when worthwhile charities like this one are suffering. It's a nutty world. Jack Herer

9:03am Mon 4 Feb 13

2 for 5p says...

Jack Herer wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.
You have the strangest attitude for a public servant.

The milk of human kindness doesn't exactly flow freely from you does it?
Your quite right there it does not
[quote][p][bold]Jack Herer[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: It sounds like a right wassy charity that does. Talk to somebody, why not just talk to a brick wall its about as much use.[/p][/quote]You have the strangest attitude for a public servant. The milk of human kindness doesn't exactly flow freely from you does it?[/p][/quote]Your quite right there it does not 2 for 5p

9:51am Mon 4 Feb 13

useyourhead says...

Isn't it a sad reflection on our country that this service is needed. we are slowly losing our humanity. Families drifting apart, children turfed out as soon as it's legal, everyone walking round in a little ipod bubble barely noticing anything or anyone around them, or worse still hiding behind the technology so they don't have to interact.
-
As the world gets more crowded we seem to want to live more isolated - can anyone see how that just isn't gonna work?
Isn't it a sad reflection on our country that this service is needed. we are slowly losing our humanity. Families drifting apart, children turfed out as soon as it's legal, everyone walking round in a little ipod bubble barely noticing anything or anyone around them, or worse still hiding behind the technology so they don't have to interact. - As the world gets more crowded we seem to want to live more isolated - can anyone see how that just isn't gonna work? useyourhead

1:55pm Mon 4 Feb 13

norah bhatty says...

This won't be the only charitable organisation who is suffering. Charities are appealing for money/donations all the time. We might know only of our local charities, but why not send a begging bowl to Cameron & Co. They don't have any difficulty in donating millions of pounds to other countries - what happened to 'charity begins at home?

How do we know that all the money being sent overseas is used for the purpose it was intended? Do we have any facts to support these donations?

I genuinely feel sorry for the people who simply cannot manage, either because of job losses or because they need help to budget their financies better. Every damm thing is going up, up and up again. Do wages go the same way?

Trying to find work is a nightmare I am told, and the £50+ from the jobseekers is rubbish if someone has a family to support. Many of the big shops on the High Street are going and will continue to do so because now, more than ever people are turning to charity shops. And this is GREAT Britain? Somebody is having a laugh.
This won't be the only charitable organisation who is suffering. Charities are appealing for money/donations all the time. We might know only of our local charities, but why not send a begging bowl to Cameron & Co. They don't have any difficulty in donating millions of pounds to other countries - what happened to 'charity begins at home? How do we know that all the money being sent overseas is used for the purpose it was intended? Do we have any facts to support these donations? I genuinely feel sorry for the people who simply cannot manage, either because of job losses or because they need help to budget their financies better. Every damm thing is going up, up and up again. Do wages go the same way? Trying to find work is a nightmare I am told, and the £50+ from the jobseekers is rubbish if someone has a family to support. Many of the big shops on the High Street are going and will continue to do so because now, more than ever people are turning to charity shops. And this is GREAT Britain? Somebody is having a laugh. norah bhatty

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