Being A Listening Volunteer
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What is Involved?

Being a Samaritan is arguably one of the most rewarding activities that someone can do. As a potential volunteer, you will be given full training to thoroughly prepare you for taking that first call.

The initial training typically comprises of 9 sessions spread over two months. Most take place on weekday evenings and last about three and a half hours. Two of the sessions, though, take place at the weekend and last from morning to late afternoon. The actual dates are arranged to suit the group. The initial training is classroom based, and is a mixture of theory and role play practice. At the end of the initial training, you will be assigned a mentor, who will guide you through the second phase of training, after you have begun answering calls. Throughout the training you will be fully assisted by our internal support system, which is highly regarded by many other organisations.

What Kind of People Are We Looking For?

An natural ability to listen and to empathise is a pre-requisite. If you are prepared to be there to support someone at a difficult time in their lives, and at the same time resist any urge to instruct, advise or thrust your own point of view onto someone else, we want to hear from you.

If you can listen without prejudice to someone's experience, someone who's beliefs may be very different to your own, and still be able to empathise, then we want to hear from you.

An Interview with a Listening Volunteer

In order to give you a feel for what it is like to be a volunteer, we asked one of our volunteers a few questions:

Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am 30, and work full time as an engineer. I'm not from Derby originally, but I moved here about 7 years ago.

How long have you been a Samaritan?

For about a year and a half now, following the preparation (training) and probationary period.

Why did you decide to become a volunteer?

A number of reasons really. I had been thinking for a while about doing some kind of voluntary work, to give a bit of my time to do something worthwhile. Then I read an article in the Derby Telegraph one day about the work of the Samaritans, and it explained that they were looking for volunteers. I suppose I have always considered myself to be a fairly good listener, so I thought it would be something that would be interesting, something that I might be quite good at, as well as being so very worthwhile.

Has your experience lived up to those expectations?

Absolutely. I was initially impressed by the thoroughness of the training, which prepares you for what is, of course, a role with considerable responsibility. Each new volunteer is assigned to a 'Mentor', a more experienced Samaritan who supports them through the early stages of their training. Following the initial training, the new volunteer does a few duties with their Mentor, not speaking, but just listening in to their calls. Then, after a few more duties, as you start talking to callers yourself, your mentor listens to your first few calls. This is to provide much-appreciated support, as well as to make sure that you haven't forgotten everything you learnt in training! The support I received from my mentor, and the other members of the branch has been truly wonderful throughout, and there is a great sense of community within the branch.

Do you remember the first call you took?

Of course, I think everyone remembers their first ever call. All the calls that we take are completely confidential within the Samaritans, so I obviously can't give you any specific details, but it was a young lady who was very upset when she called. We talked for quite some time, and during the call she managed to calm down, and had the time to get her thoughts in order, and to think through a few options to resolve her situation. I remember that she thanked me for listening to her, and that she had spoken to Samaritans previously, and that I was "a good one". I remember feeling so happy that I had helped someone at such a low time in their life. From then on, I was hooked!

How do you fit the overnight duties in with a busy lifestyle?

This was something I was quite concerned with before I joined. I was a bit worried about how I would cope the day after an overnight duty. In reality there are a number of options, the rota is very flexible, and I'm able to find the slots that best suit me and my schedule. I tend to do my overnight duty on a weekend, this means that I can sleep for some of the next day if I need to. I was pretty tired the day after my first few overnight duties, but I find that it does get easier. We have beds at the centre for the team who are on overnight duty, so we do usually get a few hours sleep. Otherwise, on some nights we do 'twilight duties', which don't go on all night, thus allowing people to go home and get some sleep.

Do you like being a Samaritan?

Being a Samaritan is a very rewarding activity. The feeling of having been there to support someone at a particularly difficult time in their lives is a wonderful feeling indeed. To have sat and listened, to have been a kind ear, perhaps a shoulder to cry on, to be able to touch someone's life at a time when they needed you the most, is a reward unlike any other.

Being a Samaritan has enriched my life in many ways. I feel it has helped to put my own life in perspective, it enables me to concentrate better on the important things in life, and worry less about the day-to-day trivia that can sometimes seem so important.

I used to worry about not knowing what to say to someone, perhaps family or friends, if they were in trouble, but I now feel much more willing, and able, to be there to support them if needed.

Oh, and I almost forgot, we also get free tea and biscuits while on duty.

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