Samaritans of Horsham & Crawley - Our Outreach Work

Community partnerships with the Samaritans can be collaborative relationships working together to achieve common goals. These partnerships are typically formed to address specific issues or challenges within a community.

These partnerships are established to help support and address specific issues or challenges within the community.

At the Horsham and Crawley branch, we aim to work collaboratively to support the community, as well as those working within organisations, ensuring we can provide the best possible support for both the service users and support workers.

At Samaritans of Horsham and Crawley, we have a small and dedicated team that visits the Salvation Army on Depot Road, Horsham, and Crawley Open House. When volunteer numbers permit, listeners are available at the Horsham Salvation Army on alternate Thursday evenings between 6:00 and 7:30 pm, and also at Crawley Open House on alternate Tuesday mornings between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

Our aim is to provide individuals with the opportunity to talk about anything that may be on their minds or troubling them. These sessions can play a vital role in supporting the most vulnerable members of our local community and, at times, the staff as well.

We have recently started to establish a presence at Crawley Library. Our Listening Volunteers are there to spread awareness of who Samaritans are, what we do as listeners, what you can contact us about, and what it’s like to reach out to us.

We offer individuals a face-to-face, confidential listening ear in a quiet area for any visitor who may be going through a difficult time. Please check the library website for dates we will be available.

https://arena.westsussex.gov.uk/-/crawley-library#/

Our Samaritans branch also participates in a national partnership with Network Rail. With our area covering some of the busiest railway stations, including Crawley, Haywards Heath, Three Bridges, and Billingshurst along the Horsham line, we are available to provide emotional support to rail staff and passengers when needed.

We achieve this through pop-up events and by participating in Rail Safety Awareness Days when invited. We also take part in Small Talk Saves Lives events at our busy stations and initiatives like Brew Monday.

We attend meetings and collaborate with West Sussex County Council on the implementation of its Suicide Prevention Strategy. Additionally, we work with Community Development Officers to explore opportunities for Samaritans to establish relationships and offer support in key areas.

Prisons have a Prisoner Listener Scheme, run by Samaritans in partnership with the Prison Service and the Government. Our branch collaborates with Ford and Lewes Prisons, working alongside Samaritans volunteers from Worthing and Brighton to debrief prison listeners.

Rates of suicide, self-harm, and mental illness are significantly higher among the prison population than in the general community. Prison listeners are available 24/7, providing a vital service to those arriving in prison, often for the first time, as well as to individuals coping with a wide range of emotional challenges.

Through their role, listeners also develop talking and active listening skills that we hope they will carry with them upon completing their sentences, positively impacting their lives and their communities beyond

Generational pressures and broader issues, such as climate change, further exacerbate these challenges. At Samaritans, we aim to provide vital support to farmers, offering a safe and confidential space for them to talk, and helping to break the silence around mental health struggles.

The construction industry faces significant mental health challenges due to high levels of stress, isolation—especially when working away from home—and job insecurity. At Samaritans, we aim to raise awareness within the construction industry about the importance of emotional support and to show workers that we care.

By encouraging open conversations and providing information on how to contact us, we offer a confidential, non-judgmental space to talk. Our goal is to help workers address their mental health or other concerns before they escalate.

If you would like an Awareness Talk at your site, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you have an event where you would like to see Samaritans present, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

When invited we attend secondary schools (year 9 and above), sixth forms and colleges, and provide talks to a variety of community groups. We often have a presence at Fresher's Events and it gives us time to explain to anyone that pops by who the Samaritans are and why they or someone they know might need to contact us.

Please get in touch with us if you feel our presence at an event would be useful or equally if you would like to raise funds or offer support to facilitate our work in the community.

• Lulu - Responsibility for Outreach and Community Engagement, [email protected]
• Kirsty – Responsibility for Public Awareness, Talks and Workshops, [email protected]

If you are interested in joining our team, please follow this link: (Volunteering with Samaritans of Horsham and Crawley)

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