Home / Business and Economy / Samaritans Volunteers Fight Branch Closures
Samaritans Volunteers Fight Branch Closures
10 Nov
Summary
- Worthing Samaritans branch faces abrupt closure after 57 years.
- National leadership cites rising costs and flatlining donations.
- Volunteers protest strategy, fearing loss of human connection.
Volunteers in Worthing are at the forefront of a growing rebellion against Samaritans' decision to close local branches. The Worthing branch, a vital community fixture for 57 years, is slated to close in six weeks along with its associated shop. This action comes as a shock to its 100 listening volunteers, despite the charity's 10-year closure strategy.
Nationally, Samaritans' leadership asserts that these closures are essential for the charity's survival. They point to flatlining donations, rising costs, and soaring demand for services, warning of an impending crisis if changes are not made. The strategy aims for fewer, larger branches in urban areas to pool resources and volunteers.
However, local volunteers are deeply concerned that the shift to larger, centralized branches will erode the crucial human element of their work. They fear that concentrating services will lead to a loss of personal connection and that many volunteers will be unable to travel to new locations. Despite the national leadership's insistence on data-driven decisions, the move has sparked widespread protest and calls for reconsideration.
As of 2026-11-10T06:27:30+00:00, the Worthing branch has gathered over 7,000 signatures on its petition and secured support from 37 local councillors. The volunteers emphasize they are not being militant but are seeking a rethink of a decision they believe is a mistake, highlighting the profound personal impact of their volunteer service.
