SAMARITANS in Southampton is celebrating a cracking Christmas after receiving a £4,000 cash boost from one of the UK's largest grant-making trusts.

The Lloyds TSB Foundation has handed out almost £420,000 to more than 60 voluntary groups in the south east to enable people, especially the disadvantaged and disabled, to play a fuller role in the community.

The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre in Bursledon received £2,000 for a feasibility study, while South-ampton mental health charity Mind received £15,000 for its black development project.

In addition, city-based charity Society of St James, which provides housing for the homeless, received £6,120 to spend on new furnishings.

The Samaritans, which listens to and supports people going through crisis, will use the money for its outreach project that aims to make the community more aware of suicide and the issues surrounding it.

Volunteers want to raise awareness of how to help people at risk and to inform people who are suffering from depression about the places they gain help.

Peter Gear, project worker for Southampton Samaritans, said: "The work of the voluntary sector is fundamental to the development of local services for our community.

"Funding is hard to secure and it is especially good to hear at Christmas time that we have support for the New Year - which means we can continue to offer our services to help local people improve their quality of life."

Hannah Pepperall, South East regional assistant for the Lloyds TSB Foundation, said: "At Christmas time our thoughts often turn to people who are less fortunate than ourselves.

"Charities throughout the south-east provide a range of vital services which make a real difference to the lives of local people.

"It's great news that the Lloyds TSB Foundation is supporting the hard work of the voluntary sector in this area."