Samaritans need new volunteers

THE Samaritans are celebrating 30 years in Clare in 2012 and new volunteers are being sought to help keep the service running.

The local branch will be holding two selection/recruitment events, the first on Thursday, September 6 at 8pm at the Temple Gate Hotel and the second on Saturday, September 8 at 10am at the Old Ground Hotel.

The Samaritans base in Clare is on the Kilrush Road in Ennis and they offer confidential emotional support to people who are experiencing feelings of distress and despair, including feelings that may lead to suicide. This is done by listening to people and giving them an opportunity to talk about their problems. For the most part, this is done over the phone but visitors are also welcome to call to the centre or to make contact by email.

Gerry Dobbin is director of the Clare and Ennis branch of the Samaritans. He said those who do join the Samaritans would take part in an extensive training programme. “Listening and offering emotional support is at the core of what we do and when people join the Samaritans, they go through a very comprehensive training process, which will give them the skills to listen to people more fully and to offer support to those who are having problems.”
The Samaritans don’t give callers advice but offer people space to discuss their feelings and the possibilities in front of them.

Gerry said Samaritans volunteers come from all different walks of life. “Our volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds and occupations. What’s important is that volunteers would have some aptitude for listening, that they would not be judgmental and that they would be happy to commit a few hours every week to do duties at our centre on the Kilrush Road in Ennis.”
The local branch of the Samaritans has seen an increase in the number of contacts received over the last few years. There were 15,000 dialogue contacts in 2009, the figure was just under 16,000 in 2010 and it rose to 17,383 in 2011.

The charity trains new volunteers twice a year. Gerry said being involved with it offers a lot to people. “Being involved in the Samaritans offers people a chance to do something positive with their time and to help people who are going through tough times in their own lives. I’d hope that a good number of people come along to the information/selection days and that a good few new volunteers join us.”