Here’s a story from Jack, one of our Derby Samaritans Listening Volunteers
“Volunteering with Samaritans has reminded me how powerful it can be simply to listen. You don’t need to have all the answers to make a difference. Sometimes, being present with someone in a difficult moment is enough”.
I became a full Samaritans Listening Volunteer at the Derby Branch in November 2025, and I’ve never looked back since. I wanted to become a Listening Volunteer because previously I worked within a government department where I was involved in national wellbeing initiatives. On returning to the private sector I didn’t find there was a similar level of support for this sort of work. Having experienced my own challenges with mental health I know how important it can be to have support when you need it. Sometimes, even a friendly conversation can begin to help someone talk about the weight on their shoulders and how they feel.
Becoming a Listening Volunteer has developed and strengthened my soft skills, which are an important part of my role as a probate lawyer. Even though those skills were already well developed, the training I received from Samaritans has changed the way I communicate with clients who have recently experienced loss. It’s also carried into my personal life. I often find myself having deeper, more meaningful connections with people because of the change in my communication style.
My first big challenge started during training when I started to worry I wouldn’t be capable of offering the level of support that callers might need. However, I was reassured quickly by my trainers and peers that it’s quite normal to feel like this and many shared them. Over time, I’ve come to realise that fear isn’t a sign I’m unsuitable for the role it actually reflected just how much I care about making a difference.
The best parts of being a Listening Volunteer are those calls where you can hear an arc throughout the conversation. Some callers come to us in a very distressed manner, and, by the end of the call, you hear a smile in their voice. In those moments, and just after the call ends, you feel as though you have truly held space for that caller and been a support.
In some instances, callers offer feedback or thanks towards the end of the call, simply for being there and allowing them to talk through what they are going through. On a personal level, that feedback reminds me that a difference really can be made in as little as one conversation.
As rewarding as being a Listening Volunteer is, there are moments of real difficulty. It’s not happened to me often, perhaps only once, but some callers contact Samaritans at their most vulnerable and critical moments. As Listening Volunteers, we’re trained to lean into difficult conversations and stand alongside callers through them, including conversations around the sensitive subject of suicide. If a call ends abruptly, it can be very difficult, particularly when you’re left without the answer your mind naturally looks for.
That is one of the reasons why, when you are on shift, you’re never on a shift alone. Working with a co-volunteer and knowing there is a Shift Leader available to talk things through, is a well-placed system of support for Listening Volunteers.
I absolutely do feel I make a difference. Contrary to popular belief, Samaritans is not available only to those who are feeling suicidal. We’re available to anybody who needs emotional support as they find their way through adversity or challenge in their lives, including loneliness.
What many callers want is somebody to connect with. They don’t want robotic or scripted conversations with people who aren’t fully present. Connection is something both people can sense, even over the phone, and because of that, I feel proud of the difference I make.
The idea of joining Samaritans can feel scary, no doubt. But the fact that you’re considering becoming a Listening Volunteer is reflective of the compassionate nature you already have. Despite the challenges and difficult calls, I wouldn’t change my decision to become a Listening Volunteer. I took a few weeks away when I moved home recently, and I missed it immensely.
Before you step into the operations room, you’ll begin training, both online and in person. This is your opportunity to ask whatever questions you have and to better understand the nuances of the role. My advice would be to take that opportunity and ask away. Everyone is incredibly friendly and they’re a volunteer too, so they’ve walked in your shoes.
You’ll be met with the level of support and care that callers have come to expect from us, and it’s always worth remembering that no question is a silly one.
It costs the Derby Branch £40,000 to keep the Branch open. If you’d like to support our work go to https://samaritanscommunity.enthuse.com/samaritansofsderby/profile
Last year at the Derby & District Branch our 80+ volunteers gave 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.