Egremont Samaritan urges volunteers to come and help during Christmas

The 66-year-old Egremont man found exactly what he was looking for in what must be one of the most challenging charities in the country.

The Samaritan. He has been a Samaritan volunteer for two year and while it is challenging at times, he said he has never come across an organisation which is so supportive of the needs of volunteers.

"If you have had a challenging call, you always have someone you can download on - someone who will support you."

The training to become a listener sound more arduous than it is, Mr Wright says but one of the first thing a volunteer must do is tamp down the urge to give advice.

“You are there to listen and to help the caller work through his problems. You are there to listen and support,not bombardhim with advice.” He said the support of your family is also a huge help.

My wife Aneela is so supportive. Obviously, because of confidentiality, I can’t speak to her about my calls but she understands when it is my shift. Last week, for instance, I did 12am to 4am.”

Although Mr Wright is a member of the West Cumbrian Samaritans, which covers Copelad and Allerdale, calls can comefrom anywhere in the United Kingdom.

“Different regions are on call at different time,” Mr Wright explained, “so you do not where calls will come from.”

Mr Wright worked at Sellafield and, before retirement, as a programme manager, running security programmeshelping the workforceto understand how to keep businesses safe.

He was also a Trade Union leader. He said joining the Samaritans was the best thing he had ever done.

“There is 10 weeks training.after that you can takecallsbut with someone monitoring you all the time until you are well-enough trained to answer on your own.

“There are also yearly updates when you are monitored - now to find out what you are doing wrong but to support you and offer any guidance or updates.”

To volunteer or to donate to the Samaritans go to:

www.samaritans.org