Becoming a Samaritan

Now simply called ‘Samaritans’, this organisation is a confidential emotional support service for anyone in the UK and Ireland. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is for people who are experiencing emotional distress or despair, including those who may be feeling suicidal. Volunteers can offer their support either by answering phone calls or responding to emails and letters.

There are also Samaritans who meet face to face at their office with those who are in need of emotional support. It’s an invaluable, well-established service with over 200 branches in the UK and Ireland and has over 17,000 trained volunteers.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

You don’t need to have any kind of specific experience or formal qualifications to become a Samaritan, but you must be over 18. The most important thing you must have is an ability to listen and to remain open-minded and non-judgemental, but you are not expected to perform the role of a counsellor. Here are the basic 4 qualities you would need if you are thinking of becoming a Samaritan. You must be able to:

• Encourage people to tell their own story giving them as much time as they need.
• Resist offering advice but be able to offer emotional and confidential support.
• Be open-minded and willing to look at alternative viewpoints, in spite of any religious or political beliefs you may hold.
• Refrain from being intrusive. It’s okay to gently question, but you need to do that tactfully.

Will I Get Training?

All Samaritan volunteers receive excellent training in dealing with emotional problems, and are taught how to improve their active listening skills. Even when you’re ready to receive phone calls, there will always be an experienced volunteer on hand to guide and support you.

How Much Time Will I Have To Commit?

The number of hours and shifts you’ll be expected to put in can vary from branch to branch but, on average, once you’ve completed your training, you should expect to have to commit to one shift of 3 to 4 hours a week, with one overnight shift per month.

Are There Other Ways to Get Involved?

If you’re supportive of the Samaritans but don’t feel that manning the phones is for you, there are other ways you can get involved. From time to time, many branches often need specialist advice, so you might be able to volunteer your services occasionally if you have qualifications and experience in areas such as psychiatry, the law, accountancy, administration or construction and maintenance.

Some branches also run charity shops which you might be able to manage or help out in. You can also get involved in fundraising locally, or find out more about fundraising events overseas, such as trekking Mount Kilimanjaro and cycling in Cuba. Alternatively, you could look into ways in which you might be able to get involved in the work which the Samaritans do in schools and prisons.

Also, don’t be put off applying if you’ve had emotional problems of your own in the past. Many volunteers who provide excellent service to the Samaritans are able to do so because they’ve been through similar experiences themselves in the past. They may have even utilised the services of the Samaritans at some point, which has given them a deeper understanding of the kinds of skills and personal qualities needed to become a good Samaritan.

To find out more, you should visit their website or call to make a trip to your local office, which you’ll find details of in your local phone directory.