Our branch plays an active role in the local community. We reach out to those who need us so that people know who we are and what we do – and how to contact us when they need us.
HOMELESS
Central London Samaritans has a team of listening volunteers who go out in groups of 4 to 6 to visit food drops. The current team meets on Monday evenings at Lincoln’s Inn Fields and provides emotional support on a proactive basis.
PRISONS
Our Prison Team select and train people in prisons to become Listeners, so that they can offer peer support to others to help reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm. Our volunteers provide regular support and supervision to Listeners so they can talk about any difficult contacts they may have had during the week. We visit HMP Brixton every Saturday and HMP ISIS every other Tuesday morning.
Further information on our award-winning Listener Scheme can be found here.
Read about Ricky, who says being a Listener changed his life here.
FACING THE FUTURE
Central London Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Support work together to help support people who have been bereaved by suicide. Facing the Future gives you the opportunity to meet others who have lost someone to suicide and share your experiences and feelings.
Support groups run weekly for six consecutive weeks and last for 90 minutes with a maximum of seven participants. Groups are free of charge and are run on zoom by two trained volunteer facilitators from Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Support.
Further information can be found here.
Suggested reading list here.
NETWORK RAIL
Samaritans has a formal partnership with Network Rail. This long-term project focuses on reducing the number of suicides on the railway.
It involves:
- Samaritans campaigns at stations.
- London region Samaritans working with train operating companies in London, liaising with managers at stations, offering Samaritans awareness sessions, responding to incidents, and offering a regular presence at the stations to raise awareness among the general public.
- Handing out awareness cards at major stations and offering emotional support as needed.
POLICE CUSTODY SUITES
Twice a week, volunteers from our branch join the Samaritans London Region Team in offering emotional support to people held in custody at the City of London Police station. Our volunteers also offer support to staff members.
VETERAN SUPPORT
Our volunteers regularly attend events hosted by the residents of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Veterans who may be feeling isolated or separated from the experiences and friends of their past are invited to come in for a tour of the building, play games, listen to music, drink tea and have a warm, friendly chat with partners such as us.