Samaritans has joined forces with the rail industry to launch an exciting employee volunteering challenge to provide a million hours in support of our work.
Over the next five years the rail industry is coming together to volunteer one million hours to help Samaritans achieve their vision that fewer people die by suicide. The Million Hour Challenge will help Samaritans be there for even more people who are struggling to cope and also aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rail industry employees.
This builds on Samaritans existing rail industry suicide prevention programme.
We can build on the success of the partnership between the rail industry and the Samaritans further through the Million Hour Challenge which will encourage volunteering from across the whole sector. This will not only help the Samaritans as they seek to cope with increased demand for their vital services but will also be beneficial for the mental health of all of us in the sector who volunteer our time, not least by encouraging us to talk with each other, and the wider community, about the issues involved.
Ian Prosser (HM Chief Inspector of Railways, ORR)
How do I get involved?
If you work in the rail industry there are lots of ways to take part in the challenge by helping Samaritans, ranging from one hour to training as a Samaritans Listening Volunteer - click here to find out more.
If you represent an organisation from the rail industry find out how to get involved here or contact the Million Hour Challenge team via [email protected]
Once registered, the best way to start undertaking the Million Hour Challenge is by undertaking one of Samaritans' online learning resources.