Bognor Regis

Looking back over 2023

2023 has been a busy year for volunteers at the Bognor Regis, Chichester and District Branch of Samaritans.

You may be surprised to find out our Branch spent around 4000 hours responding to 15,000 calls and 530 emails from people who are having a tough time and need a listening ear or emotional support.

“It’s important that people who are having a really difficult time know that there’s someone to talk to,” – Samaritans’ volunteer David.

Branch volunteers are also very active in our local community. From helping secondary school pupils learn to listen and support one another, to offering face-to-face sessions with vulnerable homeless people, the work of the local Samaritans includes reaching out into the heart of the community and finding people often before they are in desperate need of its services. As part of our work over the last year, we have engaged in 150 face-to-face conversations with Stonepillow clients.

Visit our "2023 Branch activities - in pictures" page to find out more about what our volunteers have been doing over the last year.

About our Bognor Regis, Chichester & District branch

Samaritans take action to prevent people reaching crisis point, helping them find ways to cope. We believe that giving people time to explore their thoughts and feelings with undivided attention and empathy meets a fundamental emotional need and reduces distress and despair.

Did you know:

• Every 90 minutes, someone dies by suicide in the UK or Ireland.
• Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help.
• Almost 17,000 calls for help were received by our local Branch for the year October 2020 to Sept 2021.
• Since the advent of Covid-19 the Branch has seen around a 14% increase in calls.
• Our Branch is one of 210 branches across the UK and Ireland. Between us, we listen 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

“As key workers, Samaritans volunteers have provided support throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and during lockdowns” says Nick Taunt, Branch Director. "This has been a time when listening to others has never been more important. Our volunteers have stepped up to ensure they are available, can maintain the service safely and offer additional support, specifically for NHS and care staff. To help meet the surge in demand the Branch has increased its coverage during the night - when the service is most in demand."

David, a Branch leader, says “Callers’ issues and concerns have been made so much worse by isolation and loneliness throughout Covid-19. Mental health worries are very much in evidence as well as thoughts of suicide." Volunteer, Jenny, agrees. "We really are needed more than ever."

Our Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Branch is affiliated to the National Samaritans organisation, however, we are a registered charity in our own right, and have to raise funds to cover all our costs.

Supporting us

We need your help to cover the costs of running our branch at 13 Argyle Road, Bognor Regis, to cover the costs of training and supporting our volunteers, and to cover the costs of our outreach work. If you'd like to make a one-off online donation towards our work, then please visit our "You are donating to Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Samaritans" webpage now.

EasyFundRaising

You can also support us at no cost to yourself, by using EasyFundRaising. EasyFundRaising turns your everyday online shopping into free donations for your chosen charity. If you choose Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Samaritans as your chosen charity, then when you use EasyFundRaising, you can raise donations for us whenever you do your shopping online. To help raise funds for us, just create an EasyFundRaising account (or download the app), and then shop as normal.

Our privacy statement

At Samaritans, privacy is at the heart of what we do. We are committed to protecting your privacy and the personal information that we hold. Read our privacy statement here.

Contact us!

[email protected] - use this email if you would like to contact the Branch.

[email protected] - use this email if you are seeking emotional support.

Twitter

Please do follow us on Twitter: @BognorRegisSams