PRESS RELEASE
Help Cheltenham Samaritans to improve further their service to callers.
Samaritans would really like to hear the views of people who have contacted them by phone or email so that they can further improve the service to their callers.
The confidential nature of Samaritans’ service means that their volunteers rarely receive feedback from callers regarding their experience of contact and how they feel it has helped them, or could have been more supportive and effective. Without this information it is hard for Samaritan volunteers to improve the service they provide, and develop the most appropriate and effective means of supporting their callers in the future.
Samaritans has commissioned a national evaluation of its phone and email support services by independent researchers at Nottingham University and all information gathered will be treated in strict confidence.
The research aims to:
- Examine the nature of the support offered by Samaritans services
- Explore the views and experiences of Samaritans volunteers in delivering services
- Identify and explore callers’ in-depth experiences of making contact with Samaritans services
- Investigate the needs of callers and the help they expect to obtain from contacting Samaritans and how this differs from other sources of support across the voluntary and statutory sectors.
If readers have called any branch of Samaritans, not just the Cheltenham & District Branch, then perhaps they would consider sparing a little of their time to help others get more effective support, in their time of need, by contributing their views to this important evaluation. Views can be expressed by
- visiting www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/shelp
- or contacting Michelle at SHELP@nottingham.ac.uk
- or phoning 0115 8230956 / 07825 753816 (calls can be returned).
For further details about this press release please contact:
Graham Tandy
Publicity Officer
Cheltenham Samaritans
Victoria House
Back Albert Place
Cheltenham
GL52 2HN
Phone: 01242 515 777 (branch line) or 07777 683 448 (mobile)