History of Worthing Samaritans

Early Days

Worthing and District Samaritans opened in April 1969 in rooms in Rivoli Buildings in Chapel Road, leased from Worthing Borough Council. Local advertisements for volunteers brought in a good response and following training lectures, the first recruits were in action. In that first year, 175 people called Worthing Samaritans. The President was Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk.

By 1975, the branch had 117 volunteers was handling around 3,000 calls and 1,000 face to face visits annually. The branch also made befriending calls and visits. The branch launched a £15,000 appeal to buy and equip a permanent centre for Samaritans in Worthing.

New Centre Opens

In 1976 planning approval was granted by the Council by a majority of just one vote and, in October of that year, the new centre in Lennox Road was declared open. HRH Duchess of Kent, Samaritans’ national patron, visited the branch.

Growth was rapid. In 1979, the branch’s 10th anniversary year, the branch took over 4,000 calls and met over 1,000 visitors at the centre but by 1982, calls to the branch topped 10,000 for the first time. The massive increase in demand from 1979 to 1982 was attributed, at least in part, to recession and high unemployment.

Enlarged Premises

In 1988, the branch, now receiving over 12,000 calls a year, extended its premises into the adjoining house in Lennox Road. Worthing’s Mayor and local MP Terrence Higgins attended the official opening ceremony.

In 1994, the branch’s silver anniversary, it received over 14,000 calls. The following year, Worthing Samaritans were recognised by the Mayor in Worthing’s New Year Honours for its ’24 hour, 365 day a year service to some of the most vulnerable members of the community, and for handling no fewer than a quarter of a million calls’. (The mayor was referring to the total since the branch’s inception.)

As the branch moved into the twenty-first century, it added support to callers from the UK and abroad by email from 2006, the year in which local MP Tim Loughton MP visited the branch.

Supporting Prisoners

In 2008 the branch took 27,498 telephone calls but face-to-face calls were beginning to fall - 571 visitors in that year - as email started to take off - 425 sent in 2008. The branch began supporting the Samaritans Prison Listeners Scheme within HMP Ford.

The following year, the branch’s 40th, it began to support callers via text messaging. Worthing Samaritans celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a reception at The Dome attended by a number of local dignitaries, and many past and present volunteers.

Working with Schools and GPs

A new sort of outreach work began in 2010. Working with staff at Chatsmore High School in Worthing, the branch delivered Emotional Awareness sessions to around 350 senior pupils. (Some of the pupils then formed their own support group.) It also presented a module on dealing with distressed callers to staff and volunteers from AgeUK.

In 2011, the branch began working more closely GPs surgeries to encourage GP referrals to Samaritans. It also launched a branch website.

In 2012, outreach took to two-wheels when Worthing Samaritan David visited all 201 Samaritans branches nationally including those on the Scottish islands, generating funds and media interest wherever he and his trusty motorbike went.

In 2015, telephoning the Samaritans became free with the introduction of the 116 123 number - calls increased by 40%. Worthing branch became an affiliated branch to the Samaritans, a charity in its own right rather than operating entirely under the central office umbrella. 2015 was also the year the branch joined Twitter.

In 2016, the branch were one of the mayor’s nominated charities which helped raise both funds and local awareness.

In 2017, the branch answered more than 25,000 phone calls, over 1500 emails and in excess of 2000 text messages.

Worthing Samaritans of course continues to serve the local area. Explore our website to see the latest news.

Directors

2006-2009 Frances Amos

2009-2012 Ginny Humphreys

2012-2015 Alistair Canning

2015-2018 Di Woolloff

2018-2021 Liz Riach

2021-2022 Anne Copeland

2022 - Fiona Cameron

2024 - Fiona Cameron and Gemma Peck