Norwich Samaritans Volunteer Marks 50 Years of Supporting People in Distress

Maurice, from Norwich, a long-serving listening volunteer of Norwich Samaritans, has devoted five decades to offering a compassionate and non-judgemental ear to people experiencing distress, despair, grief and emotional crisis.

To recognise his commitment, Maurice was presented with a lifetime achievement award, a cross-stitch sampler created by a fellow listening volunteer, during a recent branch meeting, in front of his fellow volunteers.

Reflecting on his half-century with Samaritans, Maurice said: "While society has changed dramatically, the importance of listening has remained constant. Calls from people expressing all manner of difficulties in their life remain the same as they were 50 years ago. In more recent times we also experience more and more calls from people struggling with their mental health".

Maurice first became involved with Samaritans after watching a television series in the early 1970s, called “The Befrienders", a drama documentary, who had Chad Varah the founder of Samaritans as an advisor. After watching this programme, this set Maurice thinking about becoming a listening volunteer and in late 1975 he was interviewed by a couple of elderly ladies before receiving a letter inviting him to join the next training group which he did in April 1976.

Maurice was 38 when her first joined beginning a journey that would shape the next 50 years of his life.

During this time, he has witnessed huge changes in society, communication and attitudes toward mental health and suicide.

When Maurice first volunteered, the branch had one red phone to take calls, many households did not have telephones, meaning people often contacted Samaritans from public phone boxes or visited the branch in person for face-to-face support. Today the branch has 10 workstations and people can reach out in a variety of ways, reflecting advances in technology and changing communication habits. Face-to-face callers, once common, are now rare, but the need for emotional support remains as strong as ever.

Maurice has also seen a significant shift in public conversations around suicide and mental health over the decades.

Over the years, wider social and political events have also shaped the concerns and experiences people bring to Samaritans. Maurice has supported callers through periods including the election of the UK’s first female Prime Minister, the death of Princess Diana, the Brexit referendum and, more recently, the global pandemic.

Despite the emotional challenges of the role, Maurice says: "Volunteering continues to be deeply rewarding".

Looking back on five decades of volunteering, Maurice believes one thing has remain unchanged: the human need to talk openly during difficult times.

In the early 1990s, Maurice was also part of a team that played a key role in breaking down barriers, enabling volunteers from the Norwich branch to provide support to

prisoners at HMP Norwich. This work also involved training prisoners to become Listener volunteers, an initiative that continues to this day and is something Maurice feels very proud to have been part of.

Founded in 1964, Norwich Samaritans continues to provide a safe and confidential space where people can speak freely, openly and without judgement. Maurice believes the branch is just as vital today as it was when he first answered the phone or sat with face to face callers 50 years ago.