Taunton Samaritans celebrates 50th birthday

Life gets overwhelming, things pile up and get on top of you, and sometimes you feel like there’s no way out.

But lucky for the residents of Taunton - a group of dedicated volunteers are there to help.

More than 35,000 phone calls and 4,000 texts and emails were answered last year by the volunteers at Taunton Samaritans branch.

The volunteers are there to help every single day, including Christmas Day, and can help people of all ages.

The group is now into its 50th year and celebrated its anniversary on April 30.

Bob Cornes, director, said: “The branch was officially created on April 30, 1968, and has provided a vital service to the community since then.

“The roots of the branch in fact go back to an inaugural meeting in Bridgwater in 1968. For five years the branch lived at 11, Queen Street, Bridgwater before finding a permanent home at 16, Wood Street, Taunton in 1973.”

Volunteers at the birthday breakfast. 

To celebrate the milestone, the group had a birthday breakfast at Mr Miles Tea in Taunton.

The event saw the volunteers gather to celebrate all the work they have done.

More than 100 volunteers help to run the branch, answering phone calls, emails and texts from anyone that needs help.

“The celebratory breakfast was a wonderful occasion, with our newest and our longest serving Samaritans present,” Mr Cornes added.

“Michael has been with us since 1977 and Eliza joined us this year – a spread of 41 years.

“Young or old, we are all bound by the same desire to be there for our callers and make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Newest volunteer, Eliza, said: “I decided to join Samaritans because I know, from personal experience, how talking to someone and being able to voice your feelings in a safe space can uplift your mood and help you to see things more clearly.

“I wanted to be able to offer that support to those who feel they have no one else to turn to. I felt so welcomed, and the training I completed was so amazing that I felt very positive and very well prepared.

“I am so glad that I decided to join Samaritans.”

Taunton Samaritans longest serving volunteer Michael. 

The volunteers are highly trained to help support the callers who are in distress or despair, some of whom may be suicidal.

They are ordinary people, and can be from all walks of life.

A volunteer would do one four-hour duty on average. They work in pairs to support one another and also have a Samaritan ‘leader’ to help at all times.

New volunteers are always needed, and anyone can find out about becoming a Samaritan by attending one of the information evenings at 7pm on the first Thursday of every month at 16, Wood Street, or by phoning 01823 289456.

The Taunton branch is one of 201 across the country and has just been described as “outstanding” at the recent branch inspection.

The report stated: “The branch leadership team together with all the volunteers make this an outstanding branch, supporting our callers and, just as importantly, each other. Every volunteer should be proud to be a member.”

Mr Cornes said: “That is down to the huge dedication and commitment of all of our Listening and Support Volunteers.

“The inspection team said that every volunteer should be proud of their branch and indeed we are, especially on an occasion such as this, when we pay tribute to the generations of Samaritan volunteers in Taunton who have given their time to helping others who need emotional support.”

The branch has no paid staff, receives no money from local or national government and so relies entirely on donations.

The Taunton branch is also launching the Samaritans 50 Club, which invites 50 local businesses to donate at least £50 to the branch, Mr Cornes added: “A donation of just £50 will cover the costs of running the branch in Wood Street for 12 hours and will demonstrate to staff and customers the commitment of local business to a hugely worthwhile, local charity.

“It is only through such thoughtfulness and generosity that we can continue to support our callers and work towards our vision of reducing the number of suicides.”

The 50th anniversary celebrations continue with a dinner at Somerset County Cricket Club, where members of the local community will join with volunteers past and present to recognise the work done by Samaritans of Taunton and Somerset.