'Leighton Buzzard TACTIC Centre saved me - and this donation is to say thank you'

A former regular visitor and volunteer at Leighton Buzzard's TACTIC Centre has surprised staff with a £200 donation as a thank you for the help she received over the years.

Samantha (Sammi) Hull has decided to move on to pastures new and leave the town. Yet before moving on, she said: “I wasn’t going to leave without showing my thanks to TACTIC".

Sammi has been a member of TACTIC (Leighton-Linslade Town Council’s youth provision) since she was age 14. She started coming to the Hockliffe Street centre after school to take part in the daily drop-in. It soon became clear to staff that Sammi had a lot more to give, and with encouragement she joined its Youth Forum, an investment that went on for many years.

She has had her fair share of health-related challenges over the years, but with the 1-1 support from staff, and her engagement in positive activities she became one of TACTIC's most valued volunteers, helping at local community festivals and events, and cooking for the senior folk of the town at Christmas.

Sammi played a key role in creating the Puzzled Minds Mental Health Project and went on to deliver the training to her peers. In March 2019 she was awarded the High Sheriff’s award for her ongoing work and commitment to young people and the local community of Leighton Buzzard.

She then went on to gain employment at the B&M store in Leighton Buzzard, and within four weeks was promoted to supervisor. She has always kept in touch with the staff team at TACTIC who were delighted with her generous gift.

She said: “The reason I am donating to the TACTIC Centre is simple, from the minute I walked into the building, they have done so much for me and have helped me to become the woman I am today.

"They have got me through hard times and saved me by simply having a chat or keeping me busy with volunteering. For this reason, I want to donate some money so that TACTIC can help other young people, just like me. I do not see this as a donation, I see this as a thank you.”

The donation will go towards TACTIC being able to invest in other young people, like Sammi, and supporting them to go on and achieve their full potential within the local community.

“We will all miss Sammi very much but cannot let her go without saying a big thank you from all at TACTIC and we wish her well in her new venture”, said Linda Farmer, centre manager.