More about our branch

Weybridge Samaritans

The North West Surrey branch of Samaritans is often referred to as Weybridge Samaritans because it was originally established in Weybridge in July 1964, in the Sunday School annex of the Queen's Road Congregational Church. Then, in 1965, the bursar of St Georges College, Father Aidan Rossiter, enabled Weybridge Samaritans to move to a dedicated centre in the grounds of the College. The new centre was open 24 hours a day and was Weybridge Samaritans' home till 1982, when it became necessary to move to Ledger Drive, Addlestone, because of the widening of the road outside St George's College to accommodate traffic travelling to and from the M25.

Because branch spans three local authority areas (Elmbridge, Spelthorne and Runnymede) and covers a number of towns including Addlestone, Ashford, Chertsey, Egham, Hersham, Staines, Walton-on-Thames, and Weybridge, it has no obvious geographical centre.

The present premises comprise a wood framed single storey building and there is also a portakabin for meetings. The branch benefits from good parking facilities for both volunteers and visitors.

Feltham Young Offenders' Institution falls within Weybridge Samaritans' catchment area and the branch's Prison Team train and support Listeners at the prison. Inmates at Feltham also have access to a dedicated Samaritans phone which enables them to contact the branch when in distress. A significant numbers of calls can be received by the branch.

The branch has just under a hundred volunteers of all ages (all are over eighteen) and backgrounds. Whilst many volunteers have been members of the branch for many years (in some cases over 40), there is also a steady turnover of volunteers as people move out of the area or their circumstances and availability for volunteering change. Because of this it is necessary to recruit and train new volunteers each year. The branch typically recruits and trains two intakes of new volunteers a year. The branch also recruits non-listening Support volunteers who assist with fundraising.

Fundraising is an ongoing activity necessary to find the money needed to keep the centre open and supporting callers. Our Fundraising Team organises a variety of events each year including the popular ‘Paws for Support' annual sponsored dog walk which takes place in Windsor Great Park in May and raises lots of smiles as well as funds for the branch.

The branch's Outreach Team provides talks about emotional health and Samaritans to local schools and other organisations.

In order to provide a seamless support service to people in distress, all our volunteers make a commitment upon joining the branch to contribute one shift a week and one night shift a month. The support provided by our volunteers is provided support by phone, in person to visitors to the branch, by e-mail and by text messaging.