The Samaritans provide an important service to people
OVER 30 people a day are calling the local branch of the Samaritans, with the charity seeking Fermanagh volunteers to help deal with demand.
Enniskillen man Martin Rutherford, director of the Samaritans Omagh Branch which serves Fermanagh and Tyrone, said the branch received 12,000 calls for help last year, working out as an average of over 32 each day.
Last week the charity held an information evening at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen to recruit volunteers. Mr Rutherford said they held such events twice a year, and were seeking people with empathy who were interested in people, non-judgemental, and over 18.
“We currently have around 65 active volunteers from all over Fermanagh and Tyrone,” he said. “We’re not looking for people with any particular skills, just people who are open-minded and willing to listen.
“Our volunteers help talk people through their problems and help them move forward. We have comprehensive training for our listening volunteers, which takes place over nine weeks. The training is very good, it does equip you to help deal with difficult calls and situations.”
Mr Rutherford said demand on their helpline was high, with 12,000 calls to the Omagh line and over a million calls to helplines through the UK and Ireland. The charity has over 21,000 volunteers in total, with very few paid employees.
“There is no particular time of year we notice a spike in demand, but nightime is busier,” he said. “We run a 24-hour service, and when the Omagh line isn’t manned the calls, which are all totally confidential, go through to another branch.”
Mr Rutherford said volunteers can expect to commit a minimum of three hours per week at the Omagh, which was 40 years old last year, and said the work was “very, very rewarding.”
“I would encourage people to give it a try,” he said. “You definitely get more out of it than you put in. Volunteers are very well supported, and you’re never in the branch on your own. There is always a designated deputy director there to support you.”
Each branch must do their own fund-raising, with the Omagh branch receiving support from the Western Trust, and anyone who wants to support the charity financially can contact either their local branch secretary or donate online.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Samaritans locally, call Joan on 07437980466.
If you require confidential, non-judgemental support, you can call the local helpline on 028 8224 4944, or call the free number on 116 123.
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