How to volunteer with Samaritans of Walsall & District

Could you help Walsall Samaritans?

Everything we do at Walsall Samaritans depends on the work of volunteers. You may already realise that volunteers staff our confidential helpline, but did you realise we are entirely volunteer based? Public awareness and volunteer recruitment campaigns are mounted by volunteers as is the running of the branch - raising all the money we need to run Samaritans in our local area, and managing our resources, financial and otherwise. There are many ways to volunteer with Samaritans in and around Walsall. For Support Volunteers, we offer a one day training event to prepare you for your role, and there are nationally and regionally run training events available for specific roles such as publicity, fundraising and speakers. Read more about giving your time in a supporting role.

Could you be a Samaritans Listening Volunteer in the Walsall area?

We always want to hear from people who would like to offer emotional support to the many diverse people who contact us every year from the local area, other parts of Britain and Ireland, or by email from anywhere in the world. Their situations vary widely and they may be prompted to contact us by experiences such as bereavement, workplace bullying, or a sense of hopelessness or despair. This is a chance to volunteer locally to benefit people from near or far, and to learn new skills as you do so.

Could I do it?

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I have a disability - can I be a volunteer?

Our centre is a single storey building, with no steps, and is entered directly from our own car park. There is a toilet accessible for people with mobility disabilities. Our volunteers include, and have included, wheelchair users and visually impaired people. Why not contact us - it's your ability to be there for other people that counts.

What training would I get?

We will ensure you are fully prepared for your role as a Samaritans volunteer. You will attend a series of training sessions within a group and learn about active listening and different types of calls by taking part in skills practice exercises and group discussion.

After this initial training, you will be able to observe other volunteers at work before taking your first call. During your first six months or so as a volunteer, you will have a mentor assigned to you, and at all times you will have support from other trained volunteers. At the end of your probationary period, you will attend another series of classes. During your time as a Samaritans volunteer, you will be expected to attend at least 5 hours per year of ongoing development, to keep your skills up to date, and there will be opportunities for you to attend conferences and schools organized at a regional and national level.

Is there a social side?

Conferences and schools often include a social element at the end of a hard day's work. Volunteers in the branch sometimes organize events or outings, or a party. Why not check out our Events Scrapbook?

Yes, I like the sound of that. What do I do now?

Please contact us on our dedicated Volunteer Enquiry  number, 07852 770202, or write to us at Samaritans of Walsall & District Bott Lane Walsall WS1 2JQ. You can also send us an email to the address shown on  this site's feedback page. If you can include your postal address and phone number, that will be very helpful.

For news of  Information Evenings for people interested in becoming Samaritans volunteers, please see our Special events page.

Read a Volunteer's "Day in the Life"

If you would like to read what volunteers from around the country say about Samaritans,  please go to the national Samaritans website.

If you think being a Samaritans Listening Volunteer isn't for you, but would like to support us in other ways, please visit our 'Help us' page.

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