Volunteer Training
We will work with you to find out what you would most enjoy doing and how we can best utilise your talents for the benefit of the Branch.
Listening Volunteers
All those who want to become Listening Volunteers have to undertake a comprehensive training process in order to maintain and develop the high standard of service necessary for the benefit of our callers. You will attend Training Module One and will then agree amongst yourselves and with the Samaritan trainers, convenient dates and times for 7 further training sessions spread over 5 – 8 weeks.
During these practical training sessions our training team will help you to develop Samaritan skills to actively listen, empathise with and support callers who contact us. You will learn how to do this while maintaining confidentiality and without being judgemental. A mentor will be assigned to guide you during the early months; meanwhile the training team will continue to meet all new volunteers as a group to offer support, further training and feedback.
All listening volunteers in the Branch attend local on going training each year and we encourage volunteers to attend regional and national, training and conferences.
Support Volunteers
Some people want to make an effective contribution to local Samaritans but do not want to be a listening volunteer. The alternative is to become a Support Volunteer in the Branch and undertake any of a variety of non-listening roles, such as; fundraising (find out more on the Fundraising page), secretarial, administration, IT, or outreach. To find out more about Outreach, please see the Outreach page.
To train as a support volunteer, initially we will ask you to attend one training session together with all other new volunteers to find out more about the Branch and to gain an overview of the Samaritan organisation and to feel a sense of belonging!