About us

We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for our volunteers. Volunteers are the 'life blood' of our organisation.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Our Vision is that fewer people die by suicide.

We work to achieve this Vision by making it our Mission to alleviate emotional distress and reduce the incidence of suicidal feelings and suicidal behaviour. We do this by:-

•Being available 24 hours a day to provide emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of emotional distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

•Reaching out to high risk groups and communities to reduce the risk of suicide.

•Working in partnership with other organisations, agencies and experts to achieve our Vision.

•Influencing public policy and raising awareness of the challenges of reducing suicide.

We are committed to the following Values :-

•Listening, because exploring feelings alleviates distress and helps people to reach a better understanding of their situation and the options open to them.

•Confidentially, because if people feel safe, they are more likely to be open about their feelings.

•People making their own decisions wherever possible, because we believe that people have the right to find their own solution and telling people what to do takes responsibility away from them.

•Being non-judgmental, because we want people to be able to talk to us without fear of prejudice or rejection.

•Human contact, because giving people time, undivided attention and empathy meets a fundamental emotional need and reduces distress and despair.

About Samaritans

Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in 1953, which offers 24 hour confidential emotional support to anyone in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Our 203 branches offer everyone, regardless of background, the time and space to work through their problems. We do not judge or give advice, we allow people to work out their own way forward.

Samaritans believes that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings. In offering this service we hope to achieve our vision of a society where fewer people die by suicide. It is the aim of Samaritans to make emotional health a mainstream issue.

The service is delivered by approximately 18,000 trained volunteers from all walks of life. In total, volunteers give 2.8 million hours of time, an average of 25 working days per volunteer per year. If Samaritans volunteers were to be paid at an average UK wage of £10.20 an hour, the cost would be £28,560,000.

Last year Samaritans received 4,8 million contacts from people in emotional distress. This is more than double the number of contacts received twenty years ago. 93 per cent of all contacts are made by telephone, whilst the rest are made up of contacts by email, letter, and face to face drop in visits to branches.

(top)

About Bexley & Dartford branch

There has been a Samaritans branch serving the local community in Bexley and Dartford since 1977. It is one of 203 branches that is the nationwide Samaritans organisation.

Bexley & Dartford Samaritans is a registered charity (No. 275357) that depends entirely on the local community for financial support. Running costs, publicity, reaching out, volunteer recruitment and training, maintaining emergency telephone and email services; all in all it adds up to around £45 each day to ensure that Bexley & Dartford Samaritans continues to serve the community.

Make a donation | Find out more about becoming a volunteer

(top)