Samaritans is set to close at least half of its 200 branches across the UK and Ireland and plans to move volunteers into larger regional hubs, with the goal of piloting remote call handling. The charity aims to consolidate its network over the next seven to ten years, citing the need to improve service efficiency and reduce maintenance costs of physical locations. However, this has caused concern among volunteers regarding the loss of camaraderie and challenges faced by older volunteers in traveling to new locations.
The charity's chief executive, Julie Bentley, explained that much of their fundraising income was being spent on maintaining physical branch locations instead of enhancing services.
A plan has been announced to close at least half of Samaritans' branches, aiming to consolidate efforts into larger regional hubs while increasing operational efficiency.
Concerns have been raised by volunteers about the shift towards remote volunteering, highlighting fears of losing the close-knit camaraderie that smaller branches offer.
Some volunteers expressed discomfort with taking sensitive calls at home, emphasizing the importance of having a safe, supportive environment when handling distressing situations.
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