Has anyone volunteered for the samaritans?

[parachutes]

I have my first interview next week and was wondering what is covered?
Be grateful if anyone can offer any more info on volunteering for them, and what the interview is like.

Thanks

I am one. They will want to check that you are non-judgemental and empathic. Their training courses are fairly comprehensive - commitment just for training for ours was 9 evenings, two weekends. Commitment for actual volunteering is 4 hrs a fortnight and a 4 hour night duty once a month - this varies from branch to branch.

happy to provide any other information.

Hi Laurie, thanks for the reply. How long have you been volunteering?
Because of my son's health I can't do any hours during the day-though they are aware of that-but could do anything other than that really, they seem to be okay with that but I wondered if it would work against me.

I haven't interviewed in some time so am a bit nervous bizarrely!

I went for an interview years ago when i was alot younger but i couldnt commit to the every fortnight over night that was compusery(sp) and two evening a week i thought it was a bit much.

4 years. There are many shifts and they will work around hours you can do, lots of people can't do during the day, in fact at our branch the retired mostly do the day shifts and the youngsters in full time work do the 7-11 shift. It will not work against you, we are desperate for volunteers. The first interview is just really to check you out and see if you're suitable to do the course. It's really to give you the opportunity to ask questions, remember you are interviewing them too

Good luck

4 years. There are many shifts and they will work around hours you can do, lots of people can't do during the day, in fact at our branch the retired mostly do the day shifts and the youngsters in full time work do the 7-11 shift. It will not work against you, we are desperate for volunteers. The first interview is just really to check you out and see if you're suitable to do the course. It's really to give you the opportunity to ask questions, remember you are interviewing them too

Good luck

Hi parachutes-I applied 15 years ago and went on a 10 week course.

From what I can remember we did quite a bit of role play for one on one sessions also mock telephone calls and a one on one interview with a trained samaritan posing questions about different scernarios(sp) that may come about.

There was also lots of group discussions with the other candiadates about why we wanted to be a samaritan and what qualitys we thought we had to offer.

I remember at the end of the 10 weeks and I got the phone call to say I had got through I felt it a great achievement.

When I first started I had another trained samaritan sit with me on my first few calls and we had to wtite down extracts of the conservations on cards so as the person may be identifiable if they were to call again and a different person answered.
Obviously saves the caller having to relay their story again to somebody different.

Of course most people used a different name when calling and some callers would ask when I would be on shift again to talk to me.

Unfortunatly my mother died a few months later and I felt I could'nt continue working there at that time but it is a worthwhile thing to do.

My MIL has been a sam for YEARS, i pity the poor soul who phones her up.

Because of the confidentiality / anonymity aspect of Samaritan work, it isn't always a good idea for posters to come on and say "oh yes I am one", IMO

the thing that appeals to many people about phoning is that there will be a faceless unknown person on the other end

mentioning people who you don't like who are Samaritan volunteers is a particularly damaging thing to do IMO

Oh give over, you dont know her!

Parchutes sorry I did not answer your OP! If you are worried about the interview I would phone the centre at which you are volunteering and ask to talk it through

I am not a Samaritan btw

no, but if I was thinking about phoning them tonight iMum, and read your post, I might decide against it

do you see what I mean?

Oh I do yes, but twas in jest, having been a sam for YEARs she must be doing it right-she just saves her insensitivities for me!

FWIW I know her (too well) and have myself ohoned Sams despite this!

THere reasurrence for anyone who needs it-failing that I can tell you when she is not on shift if you cat me.

LOL about CATting you

sorry if I have been rather pompous about it but I do feel strongly about people being able to phone and enjoy the anonymity of it

I am just as faceless and unknown on here as I am at Sams. It's really important right now that we tell people about it if we're involved as we're so short of volunteers. Unfortunately despair just isn't sexy any more . There are just so many great charities to volunteer for we have real trouble recruiting because it's such a tough job.

I also promote the Samaritans on radio so being known as a sam in everyday life (and being ordinary) is important for the movement

mmm, some MNers are not at all faceless or unknown laurie (am not convinced you are tbh but I accept your point )

I was more worried about an influx of well known posters saying "oh yes I am one", than what you have said, though - I think identification of particular individuals as volunteers can definitely inhibit people from calling

I am sorry recruitment is such an issue atm - I know it's never been easy. Good luck with your work.

As it happens my friend was also a Sam for a while, tho in recent time she has had to give it up due to personl issues. She always felt really positive about her contribution, she was deffo the kind of person I'd hope to get anyhow!

I think there is a strong thinking that all pain/emotional struggling is equal in terms that one persons cat gettin run over is just as important to that person as the murder of anothers innocent child is to the childs mother iyswim. My issue with this thinking, and why i could never be a good SAM is that having gone through great personal trauma (the death of my Daughter) i reall y have no time for those who in my eyes are suffering a lesser pain. Obvs i realise that its not my judgement call but there it is, being honest i could never be endlessly listening to someone wittering on about the cat wthout wanting to shout "get a grip, there are worse things you know" and of course offering personal advice (like the gem "get a grip" is a bit of a no no.
That said it is with the greatest respect that i say, "hats off' to those who do do it, there is no doubt it is a service greatly needed in society and I am thankful for it-just know my limitations!

now I understand Franny - totally agree, there are some people on here who are definitely not faceless or anonymous where it would be really strange to think of them as a sam

Thanks everyone for the feedback-I've only just now had the chance to check back in.