Joanne Marrable

Joanne is a project planner in Network Rail’s Capital Delivery Eastern (Signalling) team in Derby.

Having started her training as a listening volunteer for Samaritans in January 2019, she knows just how much a single act of kindness - such as lending a listening ear - can mean to someone.

She usually does one shift a week at her local branch in the East Midlands. It can vary between three and six hours and includes overnight duties.

She says: “I signed up to be a listening volunteer because I’d attended the Managing Suicidal Contacts training through work, which I’d thoroughly enjoyed.

“Then, as part of my day job at the time, I found myself having one or two impromptu conversations about wellbeing and being mentally fit or physically fit to carry out your work. After looking online, I dropped an enquiry to Samaritans, and it went from there.

“I still feel like the new girl - some of the volunteers have been with the organisation for a very long time! The initial training was in a classroom and it was a huge support to be with the same people as we progressed through the sessions.

“After some really challenging training, I was welcomed into the team under mentorship and moved to the operations room to begin to take calls - I was so nervous on my first duty and very thankful of the fantastic support of my mentor and duty partner. I went on to do a number of duties with my mentor and others before being made a full listening volunteer.

“I absolutely love being a listening volunteer with Samaritans, I consider it a privilege. There’s something quite humbling about being granted access into a person’s life and quite often in their darkest moments.

“Some callers can find it so difficult to pick up the phone and start a conversation. As a volunteer you’re able to give them the time and space they need to share their thoughts and feelings and to really listen to them.”