To be upset at the closure of Samaritans branches?

[PicklesandPrickles]

Seven closures have been announced so far. Many more to come.

I just cant see how this will improve the services. Some of these branches have been going for 50+ years, have 100 or more volunteers and are doing an amazing job fundraising to keep the doors open, running charity shops etc.

This is one article, relating to one of the mergers:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq99z8vkz0x8o

This is the list:

First-Phase Branch Closures

• Caithness (Scotland)
• Orkney (Scotland)
• Shetland (Scotland)
• Stornoway (Scotland)
• Grimsby (Northern England)
• Scunthorpe (Northern England)
• Worthing (Southern England)

Mergers and Regional Hubs

• Inverness and Elgin are merging to form a new Highlands branch.
• Halifax, Huddersfield, and Bradford are combining to create a West Yorkshire hub

I don't know what else to say. Heartbroken and angry.

I disagree. We had special email training in our branch and all responses were checked by another Sam.

People who choose to email us received thoughtful, helpful replies that they genuinely appreciated.

I think there is always a tricky relationship between a National office and a federated structure of local branches. Each has its own leadership and priorities do not always align. However, I'm not sure closing the branches is the way forward.

I disagree about the quality of email responses.
I was a Samaritan for a few years and did alot of email responses. I was shocked by the quality of some of the previous email responses I came across. I could'nt believe they had actually been checked by another Samaritan.

Maybe the training was improved but in my branch email training was brushed over, which is possibly why many volunteers tended to avoid it.
I really liked it and thought it could be very useful when done properly.

Regarding working from home - I would'nt have minded as long as support is available which I'm sure it will be. It will suit some and not suit others. Some branches have a more supportive culture than others.

Our branch had Sams who specialised in emails and who led email training, which is probably why ours was so good.

Agree that the quality of other responses could be … patchy.

While accepting that finances will always be in there somewhere the issue they are trying to address is that too many callers are not answered or are having to wait a long time - especially in hours of need.

In my branch (which is well run and not toxic at all) shifts consist of two listeners and one leader. If they can’t get two listeners the shift is closed. That happens regularly

The argument is that fewer bigger branches (they studiously disavow the words call centres) would be able to have shifts of - say - 4-5 listeners which would mean less cancellations and more listeners available

This, of course, depends on getting enough volunteers in the first place. As PPs have said there is a strong sense of loyalty to the current branches and it is social too.

Speaking to others in my branch a lot would not want to travel any further and do not like the idea of the larger structure

We always have a lot of trainees but many of them drop away quite quickly

So it may not be that easy to find enough volunteers to staff the new branches

What distresses me is that the 116 123 number is given out by just about everyone as crisis support and is of national importance. I feel these closures and changes need closer scrutiny.

Papyrus is closed. The Maytree Sanctuary for the Suicidal is at risk. NHS servises are at breaking point. We need Samaritans.

I think these are mainly local issues that could be resolved locally, maybe with some support.

E.g., It would make sense to me to invest in infrastructure so that more branches can support 3 or more volunteers on a shift, and perhaps deliver fewer shifts if there aren't enough volunteers to fill the extra capacity. That would save a few missed shifts. But not that many.

During Covid we were given 'priority shifts' which volunteers knew to take first if they could.

We need more people to do nights... so perhaps some branches could go hybrid and give volunteers the option of being at home, while keeping some in-person night shifts for those who want that.

I think there are two sides to this: the genuine feelings of local volunteers and all the good arguments put forward on this thread; and then the long term survival of the charity.

The trustees and management team will be thinking about money because without sufficient cash-flow there is no charity, no service and no support for suicidal people.

The Samaritans has filed successive operating deficits. Closing the branches is deeply upsetting to all concerned but it is far better to take painful decisions now than to risk the charity going under in a couple of years time.

I was involved in an organisation that had to close (all jobs were lost) and would not wish that on anyone.

I get what you are saying, @BadSkiingMum .

However, local branches are a cost effective model. Volunteers fundraise for their own branch, often very successfully. Those which are independent charities (not all of them are) can apply for local funding. Many current donors will not donate if they are not supporting their local branch.

(National Office always said it wasn't about the money...)

Do they have less money, or higher costs? Will read the article, not sure what’s driving it.

@EasternStandard This is an older article from the BBC which goes back to the original announcment

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2l23ylv46o

This is sad, MH care in the UK is already dire.

I've only used Samaritans once, via email, and they kept getting my name wrong(as in totally wrong, think my name was Jessica and they kept calling me Sophie).

But I still think their volunteers are wonderful and that the service is needed.

I work for an organisation who deals with a lot of MH crisis calls. I am professionally trained/qualified, which may make the difference, but most similar organisations all WFH, albeit I understand that it isn't for everyone.

It’s really difficult situation but the current deficit is just under £3m. That deficit eats away at reserves very quickly unless changes are made.

Property costs have been going up and being able to free up some capital (by selling property) and reduce running costs (by closing branches) is probably the best hope of the charity surviving.

It sounds dramatic to talk about survival but I have seen it happen, more than once.

I'd like to see the business plan, @BadSkiingMum , because I don't get it. As said before, we've been told it's not a cost-cutting exercise.

We’ve got three work stations.

We did have a spell of three spaces per shift on the rota but that had now reverted to two. I suspect three up meant more shift closures. You can still ask for an extra space to be added to a particular shift

I think there is an issue with retention of volunteers and/or getting them to commit regularly - especially the new ones.

We’re one of the branches on the night shift pilot. Nights are a problem - especially the early hours ones. In my case I literally can’t get into (or home from) the branch because I use public transport. But, also, I don’t think I could do it at my age!

I agree that it will likely end up with hybrid working

Unfortunately, with an ongoing deficit there has to be a cost-cutting exercise, preferably sooner rather than later. Or an insolvency exercise is what you are facing…

If the board meeting happened in September then it sounds like a done deal.

I really hope the plan works anyway, as the service is too vital to lose.

@BadSkiingMum I wonder how much has this restructure has cost? And how much it is costing…

yeah cos remote working when you're talking to someone who is actively suicidal, who may begin a sexual talk, who may be talking about abuse received or perpetrated isn't problematic.... no support on hand, in your own home. maybe fine for long term experiences vols but I think it's massively problematic as an approach

and they've removed funding from the Festival Branch that does outreach over the festival season so their future is uncertain too. it will be catastrophic for the whole service.

higher costs, more paid staff....

in theory it shouldn't affect call pick up because the calls are passed across the service to be picked up. if they centralise branches and open hubs, there SHOULD be people to take the calls. SHOULD bring the if they don't lose too many volunteers/ can recruit enough new volunteers.

That’s a real shame.

But if half the branches close and you lose… a third? Of the volunteers?

My local branch does face to face. You can drop in and speak to someone in person. That is a service that will vanish if/when it closes.

I know. and the Scotland branches closing, it isn't like their nearest branch now is 10 minutes into the next city.

but I suspect I'm the long run it won't be that many, or at least I hope so. people will fight hard to keep doing it cos it means something, and they'll do a big recruitment drive around the new hubs.
however what they risk losing is experience. you can't just recruit thst. And public opinion.