Articles - Miscellaneous

Samaritans

Most people, if asked, will say they have heard of Samaritans… similarly though, most people will not be able to say quite why they have heard of us.

Samaritans celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2003, and during its history has offered, through its volunteers, a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year listening service to all those who are depressed desperate or suicidal. Through a network of over 200 branches nationwide supported by its 16,000 volunteers the charity currently receives in excess of 4 million calls each year, either via local telephone or the national number 08457 90 90 90. Leeds branch, the third largest in the country, handles over 40,000 of these calls.

The charity is currently going through a re-branding exercise. We are no longer “The Samaritans”, just “Samaritans” – with a new colour (green) for the logo. More important, a thorough review has been carried out of the image we portray to the outside world: how others see us. Additionally, we see the ever growing need for our support to be offered to anyone in need of emotional support – not just the desperate and suicidal; although that will continue to be the core part of our activity. Further, the need for Samaritan volunteers to remain anonymous within the community is no longer seen as necessary.

Much, but not all of the work of Samaritans is conducted over the telephone, and the anonymity offered to callers is probably one of the greatest benefits of the service, and also the reason for its success. Samaritan volunteers come from all walks of life. – they are prepared to give freely of their time, committing themselves to a given shift on a regular basis; they are good listeners, real listeners; they do not pass judgement on callers; and above all they are prepared to talk through a caller’s most pressing worry. Samaritans do not give advice, but we offer callers a life-line which is probably not available elsewhere to them at that precise moment in their crisis.

Have you got what it takes to be a Samaritan listening volunteer? Can you spare 4 hours every two weeks to be a Samaritan? Can you fulfil the requirement to do 7 overnight shifts a year to help us here in Leeds maintain our 24 hour service. Alternatively could you perhaps become a member of the fund-raising team?

Leeds Samaritans hold regular monthly information evenings for potential new volunteers at our Clarendon Road Centre in order to try and give an insight into the work of a listener. To obtain more details ring Leeds 2456789; we are there to take your call …….anytime, day or night …..could you be there to do the same?

31 March, 2003