To meet volunteers from North London Samaritans and find out what's involved, visit us at one of our Information Days.
We hold regular Information Days throughout the year where you can hear from current members of the branch, find out more about our services and what’s involved when you volunteer for North London Samaritans – because it’s quite a big commitment.
Information Days are held at the weekend from 10.00am until around 12.00pm. There is no obligation to volunteer once you have attended an Information Day, so why not come along?
Upcoming Information Days 2022
Due to the current Covid-19 situation and subsequent restrictions on face-to-face meetings indoors, we are presently utilising Zoom for our Information Days.
In the meantime, please click here to express an interest and we will send you details when they become available.
Then What?
To be a Samaritans Listening Volunteer you don’t need special qualifications or knowledge – just a few hours a week, and the ability to listen without judgement to people experiencing suicidal feelings or feelings of distress and despair.
If you are interested in volunteering after you have attended an Information Day, you will be invited to attend a Selection Interview. This is when you will meet two of our trained and experienced Selection team volunteers, and is an opportunity for us to get to know you, and for you and us to find out if the role is right for you. We can also work out whether you are interested in becoming a Listening Volunteer or a Support volunteer.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, we are presently utilising Zoom for our Interviews. We hope we will return to in-person interviews in our branch in north London by 2022.
Samaritans Core Development and ongoing support
Our recruitment and training is all done by volunteers. It can take a few months from when you make your first enquiry, but we value everyone who is interested in volunteering with us.
Listening Volunteers have to be thoroughly trained and prepared for their role. Before becoming a Samaritan volunteer you would join an initial training course spanning 8 weeks (one evening per week and two weekend days). This now includes online distance learning so you are not expected to travel for every training session.
We have social media guidelines for our volunteers which includes asking trainee volunteers not to disclose they are volunteers until they are fully trained. We would therefore suggest that you don’t mention on social media that you are applying to become a volunteer. This protects you from being asked to help someone when you may not have completed the training.
North London Samaritans Core Development Dates 2022
January to March 2022
- Thursday, 6th January, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 13th January, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 20th January, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 27th January, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 3rd February, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 10th February, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 17th February, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 24th February, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 3rd March, 7–9.30pm
- Sunday, 6th March: "Skills Day" (10am–4pm, with a break for lunch)
April to June 2022
- Thursday, 14th April, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 21st April, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 28th April, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 5th May, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 12th May, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 19th May, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 26th May, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 2nd June, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 9th June, 7–9.30pm
- Saturday, 11th June: "Skills Day" (10am–4pm, with a break for lunch)
September to November 2022
- Thursday, 15th September, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 22nd September, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 29th September, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 6th October, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 13th October, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 20th October, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 27th October, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 3rd November, 7–9.30pm
- Thursday, 10th November, 7–9.30pm
- Saturday, 12th November: "Skills Day" (10am–4pm, with a break for lunch)
Once you have entered the branch, you will work with a mentor and attend additional ongoing training workshops at intervals.
In terms of support, volunteers are never left to cope with a difficult call on their own. When they are on the phones, and afterwards too, there will always be an experienced volunteer on hand to offer support.