Because I’ve got a new job in Dubai starting soon, I’ve resigned from Sams. For the last 4 year or so, at least once a week (apart from when I’ve been away) I’ve been ‘a listener’. A volunteer Samaritan. A bloke at the end of a phone that helped people in emotional distress, often people who were feeling suicidal. I… Read more →
Today, after the final full day training session, I concluded my “SIT1” training and was told I’d passed. I am now a qualified Samaritan. I’ve got an official number (with a P for Probation after it for the time being) and a key to the door. I’ll be on probation for a while and there are a few more sessions… Read more →
Last night, I had my last “SIT1” training evening with The Samaritans. I’ve got a full day session to go – where we learn about some of the email and admin side of things, find out who our assigned mentors are and get our official ‘number’. It’ll have a ‘P’ after it for probation for a few months – I’ve… Read more →
A large part of tonight’s training at Samaritans was about the importance of confidentiality. At one point, I realised, I may have made a mistake. In our training, we were given a piece of advice that I’ve already blown, which went along the lines of “With regards to being a Samaritan, you should consider being selective, about who you tell.”… Read more →
Following on from last nights post; I’ve just got the call from the Harrogate Samaritans recruitment secretary – I’m in. I’m a trainee Samaritan. The reputedly heavy weight training schedule starts next week, and ploughs on through the rest of this year and into next. By Q2 next year though (all being well, or in a way, not well, because… Read more →
This evening, I attended an interview and selection evening for The Samaritans. These two events are normally separated, but circumstances dictated that in my case, they were back to back. The interview was about an hour, the selection evening, about two and a half hours. The interview itself was good – I felt so anyway. By now, I’ve gained quite a… Read more →
I sent off an application to be a Samaritan today. It’s something I’ve been considering for a while – years probably. My dad (RIP) was a Samaritan, and that’s one reason, but another reason is that I believe I’m a good listener. I feel I want to give something back to the community – perhaps this is how I’ll… Read more →
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