Volunteering

We currently have 85 listening volunteers all of whom have completed the Samaritans highly regarded training course. Once trained, they are given full support when manning the telephone helpline and handling email, text and face to face contacts. Would you like to train to become listening volunteer?

You might feel you could not be a listening volunteer, but want to help us in another way - how about becoming a Support Volunteer? Support Samaritans make a vital contribution to our branch by undertaking administrative work, helping to publicise Samaritans and being part of our fund raising team, organising or helping with events to raise money for the branch.

If you would like to apply to join our branch of Samaritans please contact

Taunton & Somerset Samaritans,
16 Wood Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1UN
Telephone 01823 288998

We hold informal Information Evenings on the first Thursday of every month at 18:30 at our centre in Wood Street Taunton, do come along, meet our volunteers and learn more about the service we provide.

Contact us by email with your name and address to:- sam@tauntonsamaritans.org.uk

Samaritan volunteers are ordinary people offering confidential emotional support to others experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those feelings which may lead to suicide.

You don’t need any formal qualifications or previous experience to become a Samaritan. You do need to be a good listener and allow people the time and space to explore their feelings.

To volunteer you need to be 18 or over and willing to do on average 4 duties a month to include a night duty. For those who would find such a listening commitment difficult you can still applying to become a support volunteer.