Mar 27 - Samaritans To Set Up In Gibraltar – Call For Volunteers
Arrangements are underway to establish a Samaritans helpline in Gibraltar. The helpline will offer a confidential advice and listening service to anyone experiencing “distress, despair or suicidal feelings.”
A spokesperson said: “We have identified the need for a Helpline to be established in Gibraltar on the same lines as found in most other countries.
“It is important for people to have the opportunity to explore difficult feelings. Being listened to in confidence, and being accepted without prejudice, without being judged, can alleviate general distress, despair and suicidal feelings.
“Often being listened to is enough to help someone through a time of distress. Even just showing that you are there for them, and that you know they are going through a distressing time, can in itself be a comfort.
“For people who are lonely, despairing and possibly even considering suicide, the helpline is often the last hope – a place where they can talk in complete confidence about their deepest fears and darkest secrets.
“Suffering from an emotional crisis not only affects the person concerned, it can have a ripple effect on the families who are then also in need of emotional support.”
Samaritans are trained volunteers who are there to listen; you can talk to them any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. You do not have to give your name, neither does the listener; your call is anonymous and completely confidential and it cannot be traced back to you.
The most common problems people contact the Samaritans for are:
- relationship and family problems
- domestic abuse
- loss, including loss of a friend or a family member through bereavement
- stress of coping with elderly relatives
- financial worries
- job-related stress
- college or study-related stress
- bullying
- loneliness and isolation
- sexual orientation
- depression
- self-harming
- painful and/or disabling physical illness
- heavy use of or dependency on alcohol or other drugs
- gambling or other addiction
- thoughts of suicide
The local movement has contacted the Samaritans in UK and also Befrienders Worldwide, the umbrella organisation, and both are keen to help them establish this service in Gibraltar. They are advising on the set-up so that local arrangements meet their standards and have already given them provisional membership of Befrienders Worldwide. Samaritans will be providing all the training required for local volunteers to run the service.
As with all similar services worldwide, Gibraltar Samaritans will be established as a charitable organisation, run by volunteers and funded by public donations.
The group has, so far, acquired assistance from the Government which has given them an office from which they can operate.
The Regulatory Authority has already approved the allocation of the Pan-European Freephone number 116123 allocated to similar Helplines throughout Europe.
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
The Gibraltar Samaritans will be run by volunteers. Before the service can be up and running, they need to recruit people to help run the Charity.
- Persons with suitable experience to train as Trainers
This course will be delivered by 2 UK Samaritan trainers over the weekend of April 21st-23rd
- Listeners to man the Helplines.
There will be an Information Day for volunteers on 13th or 14th May. Maggie Galliano, the Director of Central London Samaritan office, the biggest in UK, will be coming to Gibraltar for this.
Volunteers will then be trained by local trainers over the following weeks.
- Volunteers to help with fundraising, office and other requirements.
A spokesperson ended: “It is important that the service runs efficiently on a day to day practical level, we raise funds to run it, promote it etc., so the volunteer listeners are able to do the part in manning the Freephone lines.”
Anyone wishing to volunteer their services to this worthy cause please contact:
Marielou Guerrero
Chairman
Gibraltar Samaritans
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mobile: 57705000
{fcomment}
