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’m sure they’ll recruit new volunteers but it will be a different type of person who signs up to remote volunteering from the off. I can see more short term volunteers - fewer of the ones that stay for years and years, and spend their weekends holding a collection bucket or running the charity shop

I am not a Samariton, but I do various volunteer roles.
I had heard about the ongoing changes.

In the future will Samaritons be using

1
Teams or video conferencing for debriefing amongst volunteers office & home based ?
I have used this successfully in my job, speaking with people based in many locations UK & abroad.

2
Real time Chat

3
Chat can be used at the same time as Teams

However, I understand that some people enjoyed volunteering in their local office.
But some people are free & willing to WFH too.

Technology has moved on

I wonder if this charity will revert back to local bases in the future ? Only time will tell.

Perhaps a merger with another charity or other services in the future too ?

Good luck