1960 - 1970
Portsmouth Samaritans was formed in 1962 by a handful of people who operated with a single telephone
out of a small room in All Saints Church in the centre of the City. As the Samaritans name became more widely known so the
numbers of people contacting Portsmouth Branch grew dramatically, as did the number of its unpaid staff. By the mid-1960's
the Branch had moved to a terraced house in Commercial Road. However, this was in a poor state of repair, and also
redevelopment of the area loomed.
1970 - 1980
In 1970 we moved to our current location at 296 London Road where the larger premises
enabled us to keep pace with the increasing demand on our 24 hour service. By this time our telephone system had increased
to three lines. Additionally, building alterations were made to create two interview rooms so that callers who preferred
to speak in person could visit us and be seen privately.
1980 - 1990
The nature of our work has always meant that our volunteers have to be carefully selected and undergo a
comprehensive training course before being allowed to answer our emergency helpline phones. All our training is done 'in-house',
and by the mid-1980s it was clear that our facilities were insufficient for the changing needs of the learning environment.
1990 - 1995
Fortunately, in 1990 the adjacent building, number 298, became available, and the decision was taken to purchase it and thus provide
the much needed space for modern methods of training. This building also provided a base for the Suicide Awareness Project. This project was sponsored by the local Health Authority and successfully run by Samaritans volunteers for many years. The aim of the project was
to raise awareness of the help which is available in the community to those who self-harm or are in emotional distress.
next page (2000 - 2007)
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