Saffron Interactive and Samaritans celebrate continued success after Veterans mental wellbeing support app is awarded silver for ‘Innovation in Learning’ at the Learning and Performance Institute’s 2023 edition of the Learning Awards.
After a record-breaking year for both Saffron and the Samaritans, the partnership has built on previous accolades to take home the silver trophy for their Samaritans Veterans App, within the Most Innovative Learning Project of the Year category.
Since launch, the Samaritans Veterans App has helped in excess of 4,000 vulnerable Military Service leavers and veterans to develop effective mental wellbeing management techniques and successfully transition back into civilian life.
The app incorporates Saffron’s extensive experience of delivering innovative learning technology alongside Samaritans nuanced insight into the target audience, suicide prevention and emotional wellbeing. This meant the app, and its component technologies, were purpose built to deliver impact, results and an exceptional user experience. But combining this with input of numerous collaborating military charities, veteran consultative focus groups, 1-to-1 discussions and questionnaires, meant no stone was left unturned in ensuring the app put the target cohort’s complex needs at the centre.
Independently monitored and evaluated by The Kings’ Centre for Military Health Research, the mental wellbeing support app represents a true partnership – leveraging the best expertise and experience in order to provide thousands of individuals with a resource to access when they need it most. The impact was highlighted after the app successfully secured the award for best ‘Mobile Learning Experience’ in the 2022 International E-Learning Association’s (IELA) annual showcase and this has now been solidified with this most recent accolade.
Reflecting on the project, Samaritans Military Programme Lead, Joseph Walcott, stated:
“This award is testament to the incredibly hard and dedicated work our staff and volunteers put into supporting the military community. Samaritans are committed to the support of serving personnel, veterans, and their families – this app is one of many options for members of the military community to get confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.
We are incredibly proud of this achievement and would like to take this opportunity to thank Saffron Interactive for their fantastic support, design ideas and dedication to help us get this over the line, and to help us support those in need.”
Saffron’s CEO, Noorie Sazen, said “We are honoured to have received this award for ‘Innovation in Learning’. Working in tandem with the Samaritans team, as well as all partner organisations, allowed us to leverage Saffron’s technological innovation alongside unparalleled user insight to deliver a solution unlike any other available to this cohort. We look forward to continuing to grow the Samaritans mental wellbeing support app, broaden its reach and support more Service leavers for years to come.”
The Veterans App remains available and is free to download on both desktop PCs and all major mobile and tablet devices.
If you’re interested in exploring how you can deliver award-winning ‘innovation in learning’, contact one of our Performance Consultants today!
About Samaritans
- Anyone can contact Samaritans for FREE at any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.
- Every 10 seconds, Samaritans volunteers respond to a call for help.
- Samaritans is a charity and it’s the public’s kind donations and around 22,000 volunteers that mean we are always there for anyone struggling to cope. Find out how you can support us or volunteer with us.
- You can follow Samaritans on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
