The Yeovil Branch of Samaritans has appointed a new Director, Simon Hicks. The appointment was announced at the Samaritans Annual General Meeting in October
I’m absolutely thrilled to have been selected and utterly committed to carrying on where Sarah leaves off, that is to work towards building Yeovil Samaritans into a branch that is open 24/7 with more volunteers on board. I can’t imagine a nicer group of supportive people to work with and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in
Simon Hicks, Yeovil's new Director
Simon Hicks, has been with the Branch since April 2018 and is delighted to take up the three year volunteer position from outgoing director, Sarah Coote.
Samaritans Branch Directors are invited by the volunteers to step into the role for a maximum of three years. This applies also to other roles within the organisation including Deputy Directors and Trustees. ‘It’s a great system’ continues Simon ‘as it gives anyone who wants to step up to the plate an opportunity to make a real difference.’
In his new role, Simon will oversee the final stage of the move for the Branch from 25 The Park to Morley House, a three storey building in the town centre which was made possible as a result of the extraordinarily generous legacy left to the branch by a Yeovil resident last year.
‘The hard work has really already been done by a fabulous team led by my predecessor Sarah. Everyone involved has been amazing, both pushing through the acquisition and getting the building into a position where it’s almost ready to go.’
‘Aside from the work she’s done with Morley House, Sarah has been an inspirational leader and along with the help of many others, the number of branch volunteers has already increased this year. She will, I am sure, continue to be supportive to me and my team through this directorship.’
Simon, who lives in Milborne Port has always described himself as a pretty regular guy who enjoys rugby, a round of golf and a pint. He came to Samaritans originally out of curiosity but was very quickly seduced by the people he met from the outset, as well as the calibre of training for volunteers which he describes as ‘the most thorough and intense he’s ever encountered’.
Simon takes up the role in January 2020.
Samaritans will be transferring in stages to Morley House during December and will be fully up and running early in the New Year.