If you look across the road from Weymouth station, you may notice a rather ordinary three-storey, end-of-terrace house with a large, green-and-white sign in the window that says ”Samaritans”. Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the doors?
Samaritans originated in London in 1953 when a young priest’s first duty was to perform a burial service for a teenage girl who had taken her own life. The priest was Chad Varah and, saddened by the circumstances leading up to the young girl’s death, he opened up the crypt of his church to give help to those in need of someone to talk to.
Demand was so great that he recruited volunteers and the organisation began. Samaritans now has 203 branches across the UK and Ireland, plus a sister organisation, Befrienders Worldwide, with branches all over the world. Despite its name and origin, Samaritans is a non-religious organisation.
So, what happens at Samaritans in Weymouth? Like all the charity’s branches, it is staffed by volunteers who offer a sympathetic ear for those in despair or in need of emotional support. Everything is totally confidential. The “listeners” are trained not to be judgmental and do not give advice, but the hope is that callers will reject suicide as an option.
The callers come from all walks of life and age groups. Some are lonely, while others are suffering from depression. “The busiest time is from 22:00 until 02:00, when people can’t sleep and most other helplines are closed,” explains Jenny, director of Samaritans Weymouth. “We receive an average of 10,000 calls per month.”
Just like the callers, Weymouth volunteers are of all ages and come from a wide variety of backgrounds. “The only requirement is an ability to listen, for which training is given, and the time and commitment to carry out the duties, which consist of one three-hour slot per week and one overnight duty (22:00 to 07:00) per month,” says Jenny.
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