Samaritans to close city branch months after bullying claims

A YORKSHIRE branch of counselling charity Samaritans is to close after trustees were unable to resolve “significant operational issues and challenges”, less than a year after a large number of volunteers resigned amid accusations of bullying.

The Bradford branch will close “as soon as practically possible” within the next month after the charity’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to withdraw recognition, emails between charity staff and volunteers, seen by The

Yorkshire Post, said.

A spokesperson for Samaritans said the branch had been under review for the past year, with representatives from the regional team working closely with the local leadership team “to try and bring the branch back into line”. Last September, The Yorkshire

Post reported that the branch had become the subject of a complaint to the Charity Commission after some 40 workers, who were responsible for operating telephone lines and running a charity shop, left or were suspended amid bullying claims – with some said to have resorted to using the service themselves.

Samaritans yesterday said it did not receive a complaint of bullying, but said the Commission had been aware of “the situation” at the Bradford branch since late last year.

A Samaritans spokesperson said: “No action was taken against the branch at the time as we were able to demonstrate that Samaritans Central Office was aware of the situation, had put in place an improvement plan, and was providing additional support to the branch.

“Following the recent decision by Samaritans’ Board of Trustees to close the branch we have updated the Charity Commission.”

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said concerns had been raised relating to Bradford

Samaritan’s “governance, culture and safeguarding”.

She said: “At the time, we engaged with relevant parties and issued the charity with regulatory advice and guidance. We have continued to monitor the charity’s progress and will continue to engage with the Samaritans and Bradford Samaritans in their next steps.”

The charity said it was “fully committed” to the 38 volunteers based at the branch, who can choose to transfer to branches in Halifax, Leeds, Huddersfield or Wakefield. There were no paid staff at the branch.

Samaritans said “every effort” had been made to address issues at the branch but it had not been able to consistently deliver the quality service that Samaritans, and its callers, expect.

“For this reason, sadly Samaritans’ Board of Trustees has therefore taken the very difficult decision to close the branch at this time,” the spokesperson said.

“As a charity, Samaritans remains firmly committed to supporting the local community in Bradford.

“We will be exploring all options for establishing a new presence in the area and will work with local communities to develop these plans and ensure the service to our callers remains at the centre of any plans for the city.

“The next steps for this are being discussed by our trustees as a priority and we expect to make further decisions in the near future.”

Bradford residents are still able to access support from Samaritans, 24 hours a day, for free, by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@ samaritans.org.

As a charity, Samaritans remains committed to supporting Bradford. A spokesperson for Samaritans.