Worthing Samaritans call for public backing as branch pinned for closure
Up to 120 crisis call handling roles are at risk when it shuts at the end of November
Worthing Samartians' volunteers are asking for our backing as their branch is threatened with closure.
Up to 120 crisis call handling roles are at risk when it shuts at the end of November.
They're raising awareness in the town centre today, joined by Arun District Council leader Caroline Baxter - who has voiced concerns about an alleged lack of "meaningful consultation":
"We risk losing years of experience and an established local support network at a time when our NHS, mental health support and other local services are already under considerable pressure," she wrote in a social media post.
"We’re calling for a full review and proper consultation with volunteers and local partners before any closure goes ahead.
"These volunteers have spent decades listening to others. They deserve to be consulted and listened to too."
Carol Collis, who has been volunteering at the service for 15 years, told Greatest Hits Radio that finding out the news on a video call left some volunteers "in tears":
"To take active listening volunteers out of the branch at this time when there is no immediate replacement, for us, is completely irrational," she said.
The charity described Worthing as a "valuable branch", and added its "grateful" for the work of it's volunteers: “However, after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the branch as part of our ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable service for the future," explained Vanessa Hamilton, Assistant Director of Service Delivery (South).
“Over the next decade, we are moving to fewer, larger branches across the UK and while we deeply value our volunteers, our ultimate duty is to service-users.
"Our Future Proofing programme is modernising our service so that, for example, more efficient shift planning will mean more volunteers on duty at key times and less of the admin that can keep senior volunteers from answering calls, all of which will help sustain our life-saving listening service.
“We are hugely grateful to the Worthing branch volunteers for all their hard work over the years and we are now working to support everyone at the branch affected including exploring opportunities to continue to volunteer with Samaritans in the future.”