SAMM

Description

SAMM (Support after Murder and Manslaughter) is a registered charity offering support to those bereaved by the murder or manslaughter (homicide) of a family member or close friend. Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) Started off within The Compassionate Friends and in 1988 POMC registered as a separate charity. Then in 1992/4 they changed the name to Support After Murder & Manslaughter (SAMM) reflecting the fact that whole families and sometimes the wider community are affected by a homicide. On the 7th March 2003 SAMM National registered the name and logo of Support After Murder & Manslaughter (SAMM) as an official Trade Mark for the Charity.

At the beginning of 2013, the membership stood at over 4,000 nationwide and SAMM is now one of the longest established and most experienced charities working specifically in the field of supporting families and friends bereaved by homicide. We believe that the support of others who share similar experiences is pivotal for the survivors of homicide to be able to come to terms with their experiences. We offer non-judgemental, compassionate support via a telephone helpline and, as and when possible, weekend non-religious retreats involving holistic therapies and information on a wide range of topics dealing with the aftermath of murder. Our infrastructure is based around a Chair and board of Trustees, with a salaried CEO, who have all been bereaved in this way, and three paid office staff who although not bereaved by murder are very experienced and acutely aware of the needs of our members. We pride ourselves on being a transparent, professional charity, strictly adhering to the Charity Commission's guidelines. Our accounts are professionally audited and in line with Charity Commission's stipulation are publicly available. We feel that this professional outlook gives us a large amount of respect among the Government and other agencies allowing us to provide sensible, coherent, practical advice and insights into how these agencies can help the traumatically bereaved."