Join Samaritans Email Hub

Samaritans respond to people who need us in lots of ways. While some people prefer to call us by phone, others prefer to write down their feelings, and so they write to us by email.

The Email Hub launched in November 2021. The Email Hub is a group of remote listening volunteers who together, focus solely on providing our email service in the UK. They function as an independent team with the flexibility to volunteer from home, with appropriate support, safety and controls.

Why volunteer for the Email Hub?

• Help in a way that suits you: Our email service allows us to carefully craft our responses, taking the time to thoughtfully consider how best to support the person writing to us. It’s different but an equally impactful way to help someone compared to delivering our phone service in one of our branches.
• Be part of a supportive community: You'll join a team of like-minded individuals who care deeply about listening and emotionally supporting others via the written word. You will join our online community of volunteers who support each other and often build lasting friendships.
• Flexibility: The Email Hub allows you to volunteer remotely, making it ideal for people who prefer flexible schedules or may not be able to travel to a physical location. So long as you have a quiet, confidential space and access to the internet, you can make a difference from wherever you are.

What would the role involve?

Our listening volunteers are there for anyone who needs someone. You will respond to our callers via email, who prefer to write down their thoughts and feelings and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping the people who prefer to contact us this way.

After initial training, you’ll be provided with a Chromebook to carry out your volunteering shifts. Although the role is remote, you will do your shifts as part of a team who communicate via video calls.

Our shifts are three hours long and tend to run in the mornings, afternoons and evenings. Most of our volunteers do one shift every week, and once you’ve settled in as a listening volunteer, there is the opportunity to get involved in other roles.

Can anyone be a listening volunteer?

Samaritans welcomes applications from a wide range of applicants. Anyone has it in them to be a Samaritan. You won’t need to have previous experience or qualifications, but you will need to be non-judgmental and accepting of others.

It doesn’t necessarily matter if you’ve gone through difficult times yourself, what matters is that you want to help people – all kinds of people, from all walks of life.

You need to be 18 or over, and because we'll invest in you (our training is high quality), you need to see this not just as a short-term role but something you're likely to do more long-term.

To safeguard our volunteers and callers, the listening role requires a criminal record check. If you have a criminal record, it won't necessarily stop you from becoming a volunteer. We’ll consider each case individually. For more information you can read our Criminal Records Vetting Policy.

Please note we have zero tolerance for anyone who tries to take advantage of the vulnerable people who contact us.

How do I become an Email Hub volunteer?

After completing our application form, you will attend an interview as part of our selection process, and if you’re selected, you will start our in-depth training.

1. Complete the application form online
   You’ll go through some statements about the listening role and then complete our online application form.
2. Arrange an initial phone call before attending an interview
   This 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.
3. Start your training
   Our training covers everything you’ll need to feel comfortable in the role.

Our recruitment and training is delivered by Samaritans Training School. We have limited availability to onboard new volunteers into the Email Hub, and it can sometimes take several months to get started with us.

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 listening volunteer for the Email Hub. This protects you from being asked to help someone when you may not have completed the training.

Thank you for your interest in the Samaritans Email Hub. Unfortunately, we are not currently accepting applications.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].