SAMARITANS APPEAL FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS
SAMARITANS APPEAL FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS
THE local branch of the confidential counselling service, the Samaritans, has appealed for more volunteers to get involved with the charity.
A spokesperson for the organisation said the charity was already seeing its customary increase in calls following the publication of exam results, and added that the volunteers were also hoping that those in a state of crisis over the Omagh bombing would lift the telephone.
"The bomb which ripped apart our community on August 15 has left us saddened beyond words. However, the scale of the horror it produced has provoked an immense response from the whole community, throughout the whole island, and, indeed, the wider world," the spokesperson said.
"There has been a great reaching out, a great desire to support others in their pain. Omagh Samaritans have received messages of support from branches throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, and from the wider organisation, Befrienders International.
"The Samaritans is very aware of the need to be available, to support those who have to come to terms with what has happened in their lives," the spokesperson added.
"There is always a great need for volunteers since we are available 24 hours a day, and we had already begun our autumn recruitment. But the need is even greater now, since so many people have been traumatised by the bombing," the spokesperson said.
She said that the organisation had already been approached by people interested in becoming volunteers, but many more were needed.
Volunteers do not need any special qualifications, but qualities such as having the ability to listen, to support those who need someone to talk to, and being non-judgmental, as well as respecting confidentiality, are required.
Would-be volunteers also have to be able to sacrifice three hours of their time each week.
The organisation has a training programme for new volunteers, and anyone who is interested in either becoming a volunteer, or wants to find out more, are welcome to attend an open meeting in the Royal Arms Hotel, Omagh, on Wednesday, September 9, at 8pm.
THE local branch of the confidential counselling service, the Samaritans, has appealed for more volunteers to get involved with the charity.
A spokesperson for the organisation said the charity was already seeing its customary increase in calls following the publication of exam results, and added that the volunteers were also hoping that those in a state of crisis over the Omagh bombing would lift the telephone.
"The bomb which ripped apart our community on August 15 has left us saddened beyond words. However, the scale of the horror it produced has provoked an immense response from the whole community, throughout the whole island, and, indeed, the wider world," the spokesperson said.
"There has been a great reaching out, a great desire to support others in their pain. Omagh Samaritans have received messages of support from branches throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, and from the wider organisation, Befrienders International.
"The Samaritans is very aware of the need to be available, to support those who have to come to terms with what has happened in their lives," the spokesperson added.
"There is always a great need for volunteers since we are available 24 hours a day, and we had already begun our autumn recruitment. But the need is even greater now, since so many people have been traumatised by the bombing," the spokesperson said.
She said that the organisation had already been approached by people interested in becoming volunteers, but many more were needed.
Volunteers do not need any special qualifications, but qualities such as having the ability to listen, to support those who need someone to talk to, and being non-judgmental, as well as respecting confidentiality, are required.
Would-be volunteers also have to be able to sacrifice three hours of their time each week.
The organisation has a training programme for new volunteers, and anyone who is interested in either becoming a volunteer, or wants to find out more, are welcome to attend an open meeting in the Royal Arms Hotel, Omagh, on Wednesday, September 9, at 8pm.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0557
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
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