Tamworth

About Us

Our dedicated volunteers are always here to listen via phone and email. We have been serving the Tamworth, Lichfield, Burton and surrounding areas since 1976 and currently have around 80 volunteers.

Take a look at our Annual Report 2023/2024

We are committed to providing callers with a high-quality, consistent service that allows them to express their feelings in complete confidence. To achieve this, we ensure that our volunteers receive comprehensive initial and ongoing training and support.

In the year 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024, Tamworth Samaritans supported 9,909 callers and responded to 904 emails, totaling 10,813 callers in need.

Additionally, we actively engage with the local community to expand our impact and create positive local change.

Our Impact

Getting a response from a real person and being given the time and space to talk things through helps people find a way through their problems.

When people contact Samaritans for emotional support, they often mention several concerns. Some of the primary concerns raised related to mental health or illness, family, isolation or loneliness, and relationship problems. Suicidal feelings are expressed during 1 in 4 calls for help that involve emotional support.

A study showed that callers to Samaritans’ helpline reported a significant reduction in distress. A week after calling Samaritans, seven out of ten callers said they felt the call had a positive impact on how they were feeling. (Markham, T., Forshaw, A. and Sutcliffe, R. (2020). Samaritans Caller Outcomes Study. Birmingham: MEL Research Ltd).

Outreach

Our branch plays an active role in the local community. We reach out to those who need us so that people know who we are and what we do – and how to contact us when they need us.

HMP/YOI Swinfen
Our Prison Team select and train people in prisons to become Listeners, so that they can offer peer support to others to help reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm. Our volunteers provide regular support and supervision to Listeners so they can talk about any difficult contacts they may have had during the week. We visit HMP/YOI Swinfen Hall, a male prison for 18-28 year olds every week to either train or support the listeners. We also attend family days for the Listeners usually once or twice a year and Safer Custody meetings every month.

Further information on our award-winning Listener Scheme can be found here.

Tamworth Rail Station
Network Rail welcomes our visits throughout the year for various Samaritans campaigns and incidents. In January, we participate in the Brew Monday Campaign, handing out tea bags along with our usual materials like literature, pens, drip mats, and bookmarks. In March, we return for the Small Talk Saves Lives Campaign. Additionally, we are present whenever there is a serious incident in our area on the railway. The staff are always very welcoming and appreciate our presence.

Tamworth Community
Tamworth Borough Council regularly invites us to their charity and volunteer events, particularly the VCSE (Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise) meetings held every two to three months. These events provide us with valuable opportunities to raise the profile of Samaritans and network with other local organizations.

Support and donations

We rely entirely on donations from the public, businesses, and other organisations. It costs approximately £35,000 a year to run our branch, and your support is vital.

Help us answer more calls for support during this crucial time. Any gift you can provide will help us continue to reach those who are struggling to cope.

We receive no funding from the central Samaritans and operate as an independent charity. This means we are responsible for maintaining the branch building and resources ourselves.

Thank you to Support Stafforshire, Tamworth Borough Council, NOMS, Lea Marston Golf Club, Staffordshire Family Mediation Service and The National Lottery. Your generous contributions have made a significant impact to our branch, and we are truly grateful for your support.