what sort of person works for the Samaritans?

[hazelnutfriday]

What do you think if you hear that someone works for the Samaritans? Do you think it is a strange thing to do? Do you think they are likely to be smug, or middle class, or middle aged? I am thinking of applying. I think the work sounds interesting. But I am not sure what sort of people I would be working with, or what it says about me that I am drawn to this.

They tend to be quite middle class, twinset and pearls type, or at least that was the case when I volunteered 10 years ago, but they were always looking to diversify their volunteers.
Go for it OP, it was a wonderful, rewarding experience for me.

My mum used to be a volunteer for the Samaritans, they never got paid it's was volunteers, this was the late 80's so maybe they get paid now? I used to work with a women who is a carer in a nursing home who also volunteered. I remember doing lots of fund raising when I was a child jumble sales etc

Can I ask about the serious commitment part of your post Theredfoxfliesatmidnight please?

If you are talking about hours, approximately how many are involved once you are through training process?

Ted Bundy.

@hazelnutfriday

I have a former friend who used to volunteer for samartians charity
she could be still doing with that, (all i know),
as i no longer see her,

She is very eccentric and overly senistive, easily triggered tendency to misunderstand things on times,

You can tell just by being in her company for a while that she has some deep seated issues,
obviously left over from her troubled background growing up,
her mother spend time with those sadistic nuns in Ireland 🇮🇪 Madgeline Laundry film or tv drama series made about this anothr quite disturbing aspect of Irish history..

I think 🤔 bring a volunteer is equally beneficial for her emotionally psyche top.

However she also has a paid job too, but she has tendency to over work like a trogen horse and burn herself out feeling run down exhausted,

If you like the idea of volunteering for Samaritans, but don't like phones, look at Festival Branch.

In my experience it is a big mix of ages, sex and background.

You do need to check your judgment at the door, so the OP felt a bit off to me.

You categorically do not have to stay on the line with abusive callers. On every shift there is a supervisor who’s not taking calls. They can come and help.

My best friend is now a regional coordinator for the Samaritans .. she is a mum of 3 and worked full time u til 60.. started being a SAM in her early 40s .. she still man's the phones and takes on the hardest calls ... then goes to work for 8 hours. She works in admin and DH is a skilled manual worker so not 'posh needing a job' .. i have no idea how she does it.

It's people like her who deserve the damehoods/CBEs etc not people who shovel cash to the Tory party.

I was a Samaritan for two years until my paid job changed and I could no longer fulfill the required hours and night shifts.

I agree wholeheartedly with Queen, above and also Theredfox.
It is a highly rigorous abd committed training ( once accepted for training).
There is a lot of support.
There is a lot to remember.
It's a big commitment that will probably change you life/outlook on life.
There is v little judgement ( apart from a big sigh that you have had to end and log a sex call...again, lots of them, I'm afraid).

It can be intense, both for you and your colleagues. And draining, especially after a night shift.
I'm glad I did it and still remember some of the more disturbing/ harrowing calls, but I think I did it for about the right amount of time. I would not have wanted to do it for > 5 years.

Typo mistake too*

Relative of mine is a senior samaritans trainer/supervisor (as well as handling calls) - he’s a retired mental health professional so is pretty uphased by that environment. The training is very rigorous but it’s a supportive environment, and he finds it very rewarding (both training new volunteers and taking calls). You have to be absolutely non-judgemental and ok with accepting that some callers may go ahead with taking their own life and you cannot stop them. The principle is to ‘be alongside’ people in distress, not to fix things, and that’s not for everyone.

To be honest OP, your post seems a little off for someone who wants to dedicate their spare time to helping people. To be concerned that you may be engaging with middle class, middle aged colleagues sounds judgmental, rather shallow and actually contrary to the spirit of the role itself. In any event, Samaritans are drawn from a wide demographic and are chosen on merit not age or class.

I was a volunteer many years ago and can confirm that back then we didn't end sex calls we advised the caller we weren't here for that and that we would put the phone in the desk but if they wanted to talk about anything else we'd be back in a few minutes. They'd usually gone by the time we picked the receiver back up (or had finished wanking). I did it as I wanted to change career and it was relevant experience, I also wanted to be able to help others which was the reason for the career change. Volunteers were from a huge range of backgrounds and ages, I really enjoyed it though some calls were very tough and I still remember them now nearly 30 years on. I was 26 when I started.

I have one experience of using the Samaritans and it was awful, very nearly enough to push me over the edge. So unfortunately my assumption would be you just needed something to fill your time.

I did it for 10 years in my 30's. Really enjoyed it and it helped me build a lot of resilience which in turn helped me be a better therapist/supervisor

Masses of wanking calls, I reckon about a quarter of the calls were men trying to get off/trying to abuse

I worked through the day and night on 7/7 and that was incredibly distressing. I genuinely felt I did a lot of good that day.

Mid 50's, ex Navy chap I know takes the very early timeslots slot twice a week. Happy to get up at 3.30am to take his shift. Lovely man.

I agree. It's a very odd way of looking at it.

Only few weeks ago I actually wondered how people who listen to so many desperate callers in difficult positions cope with the weight and sadness of what they're hearing and how hard this must be. I honestly would never give a second thought to their financial status or anything else. How odd.

My exh was a Samaritan. He was a complete and utter lying fxxxwit.

My friend volunteers as a call taker. Retired nurse, working class, great fun, down to earth and definitely no twinset and pearls. Just a really decent, practical, strong person with a lifelong need to help others. She gets a lot from it.

I asked my friend how she copes with the sadness and desperation. She said you get great training and are never alone, there's always someone to talk things out with.

I've done a lot of research, and passed the interview and been offered a place on training

It is more I am worried about not fitting in

I’ve just applied! You don’t have to tell anyone what you do - I won’t be telling anyone in real life. I’m really looking forward to it, though

If it helps, it will be around 6 months before you’re allowed near the phone lines. You get a HUGE amount of support and training invested in you. Before your application goes any further, you will be invited to an open day style thing, where you will meet people who work at the branch you’re applying to, hear about the work, ask questions etc and that’s before you get accepted or start training.

I’ve applied because I want to help people, nothing more, nothing less. Listen to them and let them ease what’s on their mind by talking. I know I might hear abuse. I know I might hear the most terrible confessions. I know I might hear someone die. I know I’m not there to help them or fix their problems. I know I will likely never know what happens to most of them after the phone goes down.

But I can be there on the end of the phone to listen in the moment that they need that…and that’s enough. We all need someone to just listen sometimes and so many feel they can’t talk to those around them.

If that’s what you want, too…then go for it. And be proud, regardless of what others think.

Do you mean volunteer or work? I think there is only one paid member of staff at our branch.

I have met lots of lovely, interesting people at Sams from all walks of life, and I've learned a lot.

If a man calls up and he's having a wank, I ask if he's wanking then say I'm going to put the phone down. Then I do.

We are not expected to tolerate any misuse of service calls.

Nobody works all night now. Shifts are 3 or 4 hours.