Whatever you’re facing, a Samaritan will face it with you.

The pledge from a charity which is always there, 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Best known for being on the end of a phone but also available via email, in person or by letter.

Listening, helping to talk through troubles, worries and concerns but never telling you what to do.

Last year, more than 20,000 people volunteered their time for Samaritans.

The figure includes over 16,200 trained listening volunteers responding to calls for help.

More than 3,200 volunteers supported the running of 201 branches.

Bournemouth Samaritans – the full name is Samaritans of Bournemouth and District – is one such branch.

Only the sixth in the UK to open its doors, the branch celebrates its diamond anniversary this year.

It was in March 1961 that Eric Evans, the Senior Priest at St Peter’s Church, arranged the first shift.

One telephone, a table and some chairs in the church hall.

A far cry from 2021.

Today the branch has 163 listening volunteers and 25 support Samaritans, the latter helping with organising events, fundraising or assisting in its shop.

And there’s no shortage of willing volunteers with 200 on the waiting list.

Last year Bournemouth Samaritans took in excess of 12,000 calls and 7,000 emails.

So what sort of skills are needed by a listening volunteer?

Open minded, supportive, empathetic, discreet, accepting, honest.

But, above all, an active listener.

Because a Samaritan really can change the course of a person’s life.

Mark Wildey, pictured left, Bournemouth Director, said: “Our volunteers range in age from 19 to their late 80s.

“Our longest-serving has been with us 40 years.

“You never know who will be on the end of a call.

“It could be about a difficult family situation or, perhaps, a problem at work.

“But the calls that always stay with you are the life-changing situations.”

Nationally, the Samaritans say about one in five calls or messages are from people feeling suicidal.

The vast majority of these aren’t actively planning to end their lives.

The charity is the only organisation that collates suicide statistics for the UK and its four nations.

In 2019 there were 5,691 suicides in England and Wales.

The rates were highest in middle age: 45 to 49 in men and women aged 50 to 54.

The rate for females under 25 increased by 93.8 per cent since 2012 to its highest level in 2019.

Bournemouth Samaritans work with many local schools, Bournemouth University and other organisations, such as Dorset Police in its custody suite, and also South Western Railway.

At the Bournemouth drop-in centre in Durrant Road, there are at least two listening volunteers on duty at any one time.

They work up to four hours in shifts with calls taken all day and night from Friday to Monday and 6am to 2am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

But anyone phoning 116 123 – free to call from both landlines and mobiles, including pay-as-you-go mobiles – is automatically routed through to a volunteer at one of the 201 branches.

“We struggle to fill the night-time shifts but this is often when people need us most, in the middle of the night and with nowhere else to go,” said Mark.

The 55-year-old, who works in IT, has been with the Samaritans for five years.

He said: “A call could be 30 seconds or three hours.

“They could be giving vent, swearing at us, but we don’t mind. That’s why we’re here.

“Our role is to listen and offer a safe place to talk.

“We don’t judge or say what people should do.

“But we’ll focus on thoughts, feelings and help explore ways forward.”

The pandemic has limited activities to mark the Bournemouth branch’s 60^th anniversary.

However, Mark said it was hoped to hold a socially distanced event at some point in the future.

He added: “I feel very proud of our volunteers and also the fact that we have supported our community for 60 years.

“It’s quite an achievement.”

• samaritans.org/branches/bournemouth/