In 1985 some members of Reading Samaritans felt that Newbury should have its own branch. Prior to that time anyone living in the Newbury area and wishing to talk to a Samaritan face to face made an appointment to meet in a tiny room belonging to a local church.

The first centre was opened in July 1986 by the author Monica Dickens, great granddaughter of Charles, at a disused warehouse on the Stirling Industrial Estate. A great deal of work had gone into cleaning the building, the toilet facilities were across a parking area and there was no heating. The first volunteers came from Reading and did one two hour shift per week. After the existence of the centre had become more widely known, volunteers began to come forward. They were trained initially by Reading volunteers. Eventually there were enough volunteers to man the centre for a short time every day and in 1987 the centre moved to a rented house on the side of the, then, A34 where Sainsbury's now stands.

Keen to purchase a property, a huge drive began to raise the £120,000 needed to buy a house close to the town centre. Without the enthusiasm of the volunteers this would not have happened. The centre moved to 58 West Street in 1990 where it still remains. Shortly after this the branch became autonomous, was fully manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with 120 volunteers.

Since that time the branch has gone from strength to strength, facing many changes in the organisation of the movement. Examples of these would be the introduction of the national number, the diversion of calls to other branches when branches are unable to fully man and the introduction of e-mail.