Become a Volunteer

Our local branch is led by volunteers, and our service is completely provided by dedicated volunteers from all walks of life. Samaritan volunteers are ordinary people offering confidential emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those feelings which may lead to suicide. Without our volunteers, Samaritans would not exist.

You don’t need any formal qualifications or previous experience to become a Samaritan. You do need to be a good listener and allow people the time and space to explore their feelings. To be a listening volunteer you need to be 18 or over and willing to give 15 hours a month (in 2 or 3 hour shifts) with some unsocial hours.

We currently have about 140 volunteers providing a round-the-clock telephone helpline for distressed and suicidal callers. This includes listening volunteers, who undertake training to provide emotional support, and Associate volunteers who help with all the other tasks that keep up service running.

Information events

We regularly hold information events for prospective volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering for the Samaritans, please come along to one to find out more about us.

The next information event will be held on:

  • Tuesday 7th February At 7.30pm
  • Saturday 25th February At 10.30am
  • Tuesday 13th March At 7.30pm
  • Saturday 31st March At 10.30am
  • Tuesday 10th April At 7.30pm
  • Saturday 28th April At 10.30am
  • Tuesday 15th May At 7.30pm

Information events are held at the Brighton & Hove Samaritans branch. Please get in touch if you would like to attend one.

Listening Volunteers

Listening volunteers take part in the national training programme for new Samaritans, run by our volunteers in Hove. They then have a supported introduction to the role, listening to our callers with an experienced volunteer on hand to help them, and a further set of training sessions after a few months to check that they are comfortable with everything. Because of the nature of the volunteering role, we work hard to support each other, and are experienced at ensuring that volunteers are able to go back to their everyday lives without worrying.

Associate Volunteers

Even though everyone in our branch is a volunteer, it still costs approximately £30,000 each year to run the branch. Associate Samaritans make a vital contribution to the branch by undertaking administrative work, helping to publicise Samaritans, and forming the core of our fundraising team. Every year they organise a wide range of fun events to help raise money for the branch, as well as taking on some of the most essential roles that keep us going.

Join us

If you would like to find out more about joining us  get in touch on 01273 772277 and we’ll send you an information pack and invite you to an information event. We usually run an Information Event every month, and it covers the origins of Samaritans, how we work, and what we offer to volunteers, there are always current volunteers, both listening volunteers and Associate volunteers on hand at these events to give a real perspective of what being part of our branch is like.

If you’d prefer to apply online, you can do so on the national Samaritans website.