The charity
Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You don't have to be suicidal to call us. We are here for you if you're worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone. You can contact Samaritans by phone, e-mail, letter or face to face by going into one of the branches. To read the full mission, vision and values click here.
I have been a volunteer at the Leicester branch for some five years plus now. In addition to the (anything but) ordinary duties, I’ve done a stint on the On-Going training team (I guess that was inevitable given my job in training) and I’ve just completed a three year service on the branch committee (again, fairly predictable given my accountancy background).
Whilst I would have to concede that on a few occasions a duty (particularly some of the overnights) has been a little inconvenient; I can safely say that I have not regretted a minute of the time I have given. Like many people who work in the voluntary sector, I believe that I get out of Samaritans as much if not more than what I put in.
Obviously, the hope that I’m making a difference can be rewarding. But more than that, a session a week in the branch usually helps me to put my life into perspective, not to mention helping to improve my listening skills. The calls can be tough, as you might expect. But there is a strong support network in place and it would be harder to find a better group of people to work with. Some of these I am confident will remain strong friends for a long time to come.
If just one person reads this page and thinks that may be they are able to give the time; that would make everything worthwhile in itself. No special qualifications are needed (Samaritans come from all walks of life); just an open mind and an ability to listen. To learn more about Samaritans, click here.