Derby

About Samaritans of Derby

We are part of a national charity, but we depend on the community in Derby and Derbyshire for volunteers and cash support. Everyone here is a volunteer, but it still costs us around £40,000 a year to pay the bills.

Each year our volunteers give nearly 7,000 hours to our callers, reaching out to nearly 18,000 callers by 'phone and online chat 24/7 every day of the year.

Would you like to volunteer for us? Or help support our Branch?

Volunteer with Derby Samaritans

Derby Samaritans includes people of all ages from many different backgrounds. And we always need more people. You can train as a listening volunteer or help us with admin, publicity or fundraising. Find out more on our volunteering page..

" Becoming a listening volunteer has changed me even though I'm still training. It’s completely different from being at work or home. I really hope to be exactly the person the caller needs in that moment. The best bit is feeling challenged and supported as I become part of a new organisation. It's an absolute privilege to answer the phone and listen."

A Derby Listening Volunteer trainee

Help support Derby Samaritans

If you help us, we can help more people. Individuals and organisations can donate or raise funds for us. Find out more here - donate or fundraise.

Can Derby Samaritans help you?

We are here to support the community. We have teams providing support in our local prisons. We work closely with East Midlands Railways and Network Rail. We visit Freshers Fairs at colleges and university. We also talk about our work with community groups and local companies. We are a proud member of Marketing Derby. And we take stands at events. If you would like us to come and talk to you, please email [email protected] or take a look at our outreach activities.

"From the very bottom of my heart thank you so much for all you do, both yesterday and in our previous events. It's been amazing and heartening to see how you have supported people first hand. I’m really proud to work with you and look forward to future events where we can continue our partnership."

From a Derby Outreach Partner

What makes Derby Samaritans special?

"The very best thing about being a Samaritan Listening Volunteer in Derby is the enormous number of lovely people I have met. So much generosity, dedication, humour and support. I have loved meeting MPs, attending Freshers’ Fairs, staffing our stand at Pride events and many others. Occasionally too it has been a privilege to hear a desperate caller begin to believe that there are people out there who care, and that life might be worth living. In April 2025 I was appointed Branch Director following selection by my peers. I’m starting another huge volunteering journey alongside being a listening volunteer.

Our volunteers are quite simply the backbone of the Branch. They’re all focussed on being there for our callers which is really important. One of my missions in this new role is to demonstrate by words and actions that our volunteers are hugely valued. I’d like to give the biggest thank you imaginable to our wonderful volunteers. They do so much for no pay and are truly amazing. They all work so hard, give so much of their time and are the kindest people. And sometimes they save lives."

Stephanie Taylor, Derby Branch Director

A bit about the history of the Samaritans of Derby & District

The Samaritans started in 1953. By 1961, The Samaritans of Derby & District was up and running and we are still going strong. Find out more about Samaritans in Derby in our long local history.

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