This Spring sees the launch of Brighton Hove and District Samaritans Night Owls campaign.
THE purpose of this campaign is to recruit more volunteers to take part in the night-time shifts. Often seen as the most unsociable hours to volunteer your precious time, it is also one of the most rewarding.
Branch volunteer ‘Catherine ’ explains why: “These are the calls from people who have absolutely come to the end of the road by themselves. They can’t sleep because they’re so troubled. There is no extraneous noise in the middle of the night; people are alone with their problems. I often feel that by just being there to listen, I might have helped.”
Having someone to turn to at any time of the day or night is of principal importance to Samaritans and the support that Night Owl volunteers offer is extremely significant to the organisation as a whole.
Brighton Hove and District Samaritans have every reason to be proud of their achievement in keeping the centre running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There is a 20% increase of calls, on average, every night and many of these calls are from people experiencing suicidal thoughts.
‘Duncan’ has been a volunteer for the past nine years, he says: “I’ve always found night time and early hours of the morning shifts particular special.”
“These are times when many other organisations are unavailable, and often when our callers can feel most alone and in need of support. Some of my toughest and most rewarding calls have been during these shifts.”
Samaritans’ aim is to ensure that callers are not kept waiting for a response and can get through first time to someone ready to listen. This support would not be possible without dedicated volunteers who come from a huge cross-section of the community and are represented by all age groups.
Many of volunteers find that night shifts fit into their schedules easier than day shifts. Duncan agrees, “I tend to do shifts late on a Friday or Saturday night, or early on a Saturday or Sunday morning. This works well, as it doesn’t interfere with my Monday to Friday job, and means I still have a full weekend to play!”
John has been with Samaritans for twenty years and is now retired. He says: “Night shifts have always been difficult to fill and since I’m able to do them without worrying about work it seems reasonable to volunteer for them. I also have the satisfaction that I’m helping to keep the centre open to our callers at night. Statistically, the phones are busiest during the night so we reach more callers and also the time passes quicker.”
The lack of sleep doesn’t seem to be a problem to John either. He continued: “Volunteers with work and family commitments may find it tricky but since I am retired I have the opportunity to have a lie in when I get back home. I can sleep anywhere at anytime!”
Jean is also a retired volunteer, she added: “I have quite a busy life even though I am retired but I like the flexibility of covering urgent shift substitutions. It leaves me free to go away more often and at short notice when I’m not tied into shifts planned in advance.”
It’s not just the retired volunteers who manage to fit night shifts into their routines. Simon is a university student, “Some weeks at uni are busier than others but I usually manage to fit in a couple of anti social shifts in a month. During the holidays I do more. I tried sleeping before a shift a couple of times, but I feel better if I just stay up, do my shift and sleep later”.
Travelling to the centre is made easier by the complimentary taxi facility provided to members who undertake shifts between 12pm and 6am.
At the moment the Brighton, Hove and District branch has around 180 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 support volunteers who also receive some basic Samaritans training and help with all the other tasks that keep the service running. Without these volunteers, Samaritans would not exist.
Volunteers don’t need any formal qualifications or previous experience to become a Samaritan. They just need to be a good listener, to be reliable and eager to make a difference. Information events for prospective volunteers are held regularly.
If you would like to find out more about joining Samaritans then telephone 01273 772277 or send an email to: volunteering@brightonsamaritans.org
Or just drop into the Brighton and Hove branch, Dubarry House, Newtown Road, Hove, BN3 6AE.
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