Guildford Samaritans AGM.

Suzanne and I were delighted to be asked to attend the Guildford Samaritans for their AGM at the Holiday Inn in the company of two of their Patrons, the Lord Lieutenant and Sally Varah.

It is a special event in their calendar as, together with their summer party, it is one of only two events during the year when the Guildford Samaritans get together. For most of the rest of the year they work in small numbers on shifts manning the phones and on-line responding to people in need. In the year to March 2025, they averaged 154 listening volunteers who spent in total 8,950 hours on the phone answering 26,011 calls. Each listening volunteer is known by their first name and a three digit number.

In addition to the listening volunteers they have recruitment and training teams, an outreach team and a team of nine volunteers who support Send and Coldingley prisons. They also have representation across four locations at the University. The evening was compered by Heather Fisk the Branch Manager who also presided over the giving of awards for dedication and long service. There was also an inspiring speech about Alcoholics Anonymous from someone with lived experience which he bravely shared with the room.

Guildford Samaritans is a charitable incorporated organisation run entirely by volunteers relying on generous donations and sales through their shop in Godalming.

https://www.samaritans.org/branches/guildford