Did you know that Oxford Samaritans is completely reliant on volunteers? We want to thank those who help us.
All Oxford Samaritans services are planned and run by unpaid volunteers.
The person who answers your call in the middle of the night is a volunteer.
The speaker from Samaritans who visits your workplace or society or club is a volunteer.
So, also, are the Samaritans you might meet very early one morning offering you a leaflet (or a tea bag!) at a railway station, or talking to children at a school about how they can help their friends when they are worried or upset.
We do all the essential, but less obvious, backroom tasks ourselves too. As you might imagine, running a service 24 hours a day, every day of the year, needs a lot of organisation.
All our volunteers come from every walk of life and are people who choose to give up their time to listen to anyone going through a tough time; whatever they've done or whatever life's done to them.
Matt 1651 - Oxford Director
Our volunteers are well-trained and prepared for their volunteering with us. Each will undertake around 40 hours of formal training, as well as at least 25 hours providing direct support, under supervision, to people needing help, and a six-month Probationary period. Their training is spread over many months as our volunteers fit their time at Samaritans around jobs, studying, and family commitments.
Volunteers' Week gives us a chance to thank them, and our 170 existing volunteers, for giving up their time to help people who are upset, or troubled, or who may simply be struggling to cope with what life has thrown at them.
If you would like to join them, you can find out more about what's involved in volunteering here.
