We need your financial help !

Bromley & Orpington branch of Samaritans was started 40 years ago by a

group of representatives of several organisations in Orpington. The Rotary

Club was involved, as were various churches, local mental health

organisations and members of the Urban District Council.

The founder of the Samaritan movement, Chad Varrah, came to talk to the

newly formed branch and, after a couple of previous 'homes', eventually 9b

Station Road in Orpington was purchased, which is still the branch address.

It was decided in January 1970 to have the phone lines open for 24 hours at

weekends and, in March that year, this was increased to a 7 day a week

service which still remains 35 years later.

Jan, Director of Bromley & Orpington branch, says:

"The Reverend L. Vedy was asked to be the first Branch Director and it is a

testament to him and the small number of original Samaritans at Bromley &

Orpington branch that we are still here to answer the telephone nearly 43 years

later.

Some things over the years have changed, for example we now have a number of

people who prefer to use email to contact us. However the Samaritan ethos

has not changed in the 40 years that the branch has been in existence and

the problems experienced by our callers are still the same today as they

were then - bereavement, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, guilt,

depression and of course feelings that lead to thoughts of suicide.

Over 900 volunteers have been Samaritans at our branch and we would like to

thank them all for giving their time to listen to callers who needed someone

to talk to.

We have a number of varied fund raising events and would very much welcome support from businesses and individuals.

If you think you may be able to help, please contact us at:

Bromley & Orpington Samaritans,
9b Station Road,
Orpington, Kent BR6 0RZ

Telephone number: 01689 833000