Online business resource The UK Domain will donate £1 for every new .UK domain registered before 17 January 2020.

Each donation will support leading suicide support charity Samaritans in developing its vital online chat service from its pilot stage to launch.

Nominet, the parent company of The UK Domain, will donate £1 for each new domain registration ending in .co.uk, .uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .ltd.uk, .plc.uk and .net.uk, between now and 17 January.

Chris Ashworth, head of head of public benefit Nominet, said: “This year we’re helping Samaritans build and launch their new online chat service. One of the key challenges Samaritans face is connecting with young people in emotional distress. The way people want to connect and reach out is changing and telephone doesn’t suit everybody any more. We’re helping Samaritans build new lines of communication.”

Milestone achievement

Francis Bacon, assistant director of digital services and change, Samaritans added: “Nominet is already supporting us to build essential new digital products that will enable Samaritans to improve our services and reach more people who need them. We’re very grateful that they have chosen to support us even further with this fundraising initiative via .UK domain registrations. The additional contribution will accelerate our ability to bring our webchat pilot to launch, which will be a milestone achievement for the charity as we endeavour to always be there for everyone.”

Samaritans expects its webchat service, due to launch in February, may become its main point of contact for people reaching out for help, citing Childline’s online chat service now accounting for 70 per cent of contacts it receives.

Nominet has already guaranteed to donate £140,000 to help develop the new online chat service. With your help, it can give even more.

To find out how you can help, click here.