To get everyone fully prepared for their role as a Samaritans volunteer; there is a series of about ten preparation sessions, known as Samaritans’ Initial Training (SIT1), that is run so as to enable new volunteers to develop the skills and gain the confidence needed to support our callers.

These sessions, which are run locally during weekends or evenings, help volunteers to build on their own natural abilities as listeners. These highly participative sessions are workshop based. They provide an opportunity to take part in skills practice exercises and group discussions with a team of trainers who will also act as informal back-up for you when you become a volunteer.

Before becoming a fully fledged Samaritan volunteer, a trainee will be supervised and supported by an experienced mentor for a period of around six months. During this time the New Samaritan will also attend some additional training workshops (SIT2) at intervals.

Even after becoming a member of the branch a volunteer will participate in on-going training workshops on a regular basis as part of his or her commitment. It is a tribute to the quality of the training to say that this ongoing development is almost universally welcomed and indeed looked forward to by volunteers.