“The community is what I like most about volunteering for Samaritans.”

David is one of Samaritans incredible volunteers who also works as a Senior Digital Analyst for one of Three UK. A few years ago, David found himself increasingly concerned about the challenges people were facing and, in the aftermath of the pandemic, he found himself feeling more isolated.

“In 2021, I became increasingly concerned about the challenges people in society were facing. With the looming threat of a cost-of-living crisis, political instability, and concerning news about conflict around the world, I felt that life was becoming tougher for many. I wanted to offer my support and make a positive impact where I could.”

Seeking to both give back and find a sense of belonging, he decided to become a Samaritans listening volunteer.

“I’ve found that I’m able to fit volunteering around my day-to-day life. My wife and I tag-team things. We take turns looking after our daughter, doing stuff together as a family, and making time for our own interests. It’s a setup that keeps things balanced and works really well for us.

“The late-night shifts often involve supporting people at their most vulnerable, which makes the shift feel especially valuable. I wasn’t sure how I’d cope with certain types of calls until I actually took them. But I threw myself into it and quickly found that the encouragement from my fellow volunteers, the training, and the end-of-shift debriefs gave me the support I needed to be there for those that need us. The debriefing process is an effective technique to offload and leave behind what has been said. Some of the calls have been challenging and some have impacted me, but the support we receive from the branch community has been exceptional.”

Samaritans volunteers offer their time to help to deliver 24-hour emotional support service to callers in many ways. Find out more: https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/volunteer/