Could you be a Samaritan? 
Back | How to become a Samaritan | Volunteer quotes | Frequently asked questions

When no one else will listen, Samaritans will. It's a challenging experience but it is extremely rewarding to offer support to people who don't know how to cope. And good active listening skills can help in work and personal situations.

We are always looking for more listening volunteers so that the next time a caller in distress rings Samaritans, we have a person available to answer the phone.

If you volunteer as a ‘listener’ during the day or night, you’ll develop the confidence and precious know-how to turn your natural instinct to want to help someone in difficulty into positive, sometimes life-changing support by phone, email, text message, letter, even face to face.

With increasing numbers of contacts being made to Samaritans, we always need to recruit new listening volunteers.

Interested? Find out how to become a Samaritan 

• How to become a Samaritan
• Frequently asked questions
• How to become a Samaritan
• Back to Could you be a Samaritan?
• Book your place at an Information Evening

Everyone has it in them to be a Sam.
You've got it in you too. 

Help reduce the number of people who die by suicide

Every two minutes someone in the UK attempts suicide, every two hours someone succeeds in taking their own life. You could help make a difference.

Bexley & Dartford Samaritans are looking for volunteers to support our callers. You don't need formal qualifications or previous experience, but a natural ability to listen and remain open minded are essential skills. We are looking for people who can empathise with our callers and be caring and understanding of their situation.

Samaritan volunteers are ordinary people. We come from all walks of life, all backgrounds and all cultures, but we have one thing in common. We are all very good listeners. We welcome people of all ages over 18.

What will you get out of volunteering?

Many of our volunteers say that it is the most rewarding thing they have ever done. All volunteers receive full, comprehensive training to become a Samaritan. You can enhance your natural ability to listen and learn to support people who are going through a crisis and may be suicidal. You will learn how to offer support to people over the phone, face to face and by email and learn more about all aspects of the work we do.

Most importantly, if you become a volunteer, you'll be there to support people who really need someone to talk to.

“Talking so openly to just one person, giving them a bit of time to themselves, perhaps being able to help if only a little, it feels so very special - a real privilege." -  a Samaritans volunteer

Read more quotes from our volunteers

• Frequently asked questions
• How to become a Samaritan
• Back to Could you be a Samaritan?
• Listener: Role Description
• Book your place at an Information Evening

Not quite for you? We could always do with a helping hand and there are three main ways in which you can make a difference:

Become a listener | Help in our snack bar | Support the branch

Make a donation | Other ways to support us

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By volunteering with Samaritans you'll be part of a unified organisation that makes a difference to people’s lives. Your commitment and dedication will be recognised and valued, and your skills and experience are constantly developed.

With Samaritans, you grow.