A Samaritans Story - Who’s Listening?
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Samaritans Charity is one of the oldest and best-known emotional support organisations for people in crisis in England, but what is being a Samaritans volunteer like? We spoke with one local Samaritans volunteer to hear their story.
“I trained as a Samaritan during a very difficult time in my own life. I thought that by listening to others who were suffering, I would feel better. I did, and it was wonderful to realise that it was win-win; by helping others in their time of need, I would feel better about my own difficulties.”
“It was a deeply rewarding experience and at times emotionally demanding. Volunteers are not there to give advice, and I found the more actively I listened, without judgement, the better the call was. I learnt so much: the power of non-judgemental listening is deeply profound.”
Studies show that acting altruistically triggers endorphins and creates a physical sense of well-being. “I felt an immediate glow, a deep feeling of satisfaction and worthiness after being on duty. It certainly opened my heart to being more compassionate and aware of others’ suffering. I always counted my blessings after every duty.”
“Of course, there were very difficult calls at times. The training is very good and thorough, and newbies are assigned a mentor to support and guide them during those early volunteer shifts. The ongoing support for the volunteers I found to be excellent too. We always had debriefs after a shift to make sure we didn’t carry the calls home with us.”
"I think Samaritans is a brilliant charity with trained volunteers available anonymously to anyone who needs them. Anyone can experience a moment of crisis, and having someone to talk to in confidence and without judgement can help them improve their outcome."
"It is through the training and preparation that volunteers are able to do that, to the best of their ability, without prejudice or judgement."
If you need support, Samaritans are available day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
A Samaritans Story - Who’s Listening? - created 17th July 2026
