Could you volunteer for the Samaritans?

EVERY six seconds someone contacts Samaritans. The suicide prevention charity, which started in 1953 with one man and a phone in a room, has never been busier.

Last year 5.4 million people contacted Samaritans. Its volunteers give 5.5 million hours of their time every year to save lives, and across the UK and Republic of Ireland, more than 20,000 of them respond to calls, e-mails and texts, as well as supporting people in workplaces, schools, communities and prisons.

Every 90 minutes someone in the UK or Ireland dies by suicide, and last year more than 6,000 people in the UK took their own lives.

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, and suicide is not equal – if you are less well-off and male you are 10 times more likely to die by suicide. Suicide is also the biggest killer of young people aged 20 to 34.

Samaritans’ Stockport branch is based at The Heaton Moor Centre on Thornfield Road, and you can call in for face-toface emotional support (please phone in advance before visiting) as well as contacting the charity’s free helpline on 116 123, or getting in touch via text or e-mail.

Samaritans volunteers are at the heart of their local communities, providing support with the NHS, police and emergency services, as well as fundraising for and running its 201 local bases, known as branches, some of which include shops.

The charity also has a partnership with Network Rail to reduce suicides, and more than 10,000 railway staff have been trained to spot vulnerable people on the railway.

Stockport Samaritans branch director Sam Walters has been a volunteer for the charity for more than five years.

She said: “There can be times in all our lives when we just need someone to talk to and perhaps we don’t want to worry our family or friends. Samaritans volunteers are there to provide emotional support, we don’t judge and everything you say is confidential to Samaritans.”

Anyone can contact Samaritans, you don’t have to be suicidal. Whatever you’re going through, call us free any time from any phone on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www. samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are interested in volunteering for Samaritans, please go to www. samaritans.org/volunteering. You can also follow Samaritans on Twitter @samaritans or Facebook at facebook. com/samaritanscharity.