World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Samaritans volunteers challenge plan to close UK branches
Samaritans plans to close seven branches, including its Worthing branch on England’s south coast, and merge four others.
The 73-year-old charity provides emotional support and suicide prevention through trained volunteers who listen to people in distress.
Worthing’s branch has operated for 57 years, with 100 volunteers and funding from its local charity shop.
Volunteers say the closures threaten local support, and some have joined MPs and councillors in questioning the plan.
Samaritans’ national leaders say change is needed because donations are flat, costs are rising, demand is growing and the charity cannot answer all calls.
Worthing volunteers were told their branch and shop would close in six weeks, while the wider strategy is intended to close half of the charity’s 200 UK branches over time.
Samaritans volunteers are challenging a plan to close their Worthing branch and shop, which they were told would shut in six weeks.
Worthing is one of seven branches earmarked for closure as part of a wider strategy that will eventually close half of the charity’s 200 UK branches.
Volunteers and local representatives are questioning the plan, while national leaders say the charity must change to remain sustainable.
Samaritans says donations are flatlining, costs are rising and demand for its services is soaring.
The charity has 14,000 listening volunteers and says it cannot answer all calls.
- Who
- Volunteers at Worthing Samaritans are challenging the plan. The charity’s national leadership says change is necessary.
- What
- The Worthing branch and shop are due to close, as part of a broader branch closure and merger strategy.
- When
- Volunteers were told of the plan three weeks before the Guardian article was published on 10 November 2026. The branch and shop were told they would close in six weeks.
- Where
- Worthing, on England’s south coast. The wider strategy affects branches across the UK.
- Why
- Samaritans’ national leadership says its branch structure is no longer sustainable amid flatlining donations, rising costs and soaring demand.
Worthing Samaritans volunteers
Samaritans national leadership
Branch closure
Worthing Samaritans volunteers
Volunteers say Worthing is thriving, solvent, well-run and efficient, and are fighting its closure.
Samaritans national leadership
The leadership says the branch structure is no longer sustainable and change is needed to prevent branches from failing.
Effects of the strategy
Worthing Samaritans volunteers
Volunteers fear that many will be unable to transfer to Brighton.
Samaritans national leadership
The leadership says that without action the charity faces the risk of branches failing.
Worthing volunteers Mark and Carol helped a distressed man who had climbed scaffolding and threatened to jump reach safety.
Worthing volunteers were told in an online meeting that their branch and shop would close in six weeks.
The Guardian reported that Worthing volunteers, MPs and councillors were questioning Samaritans’ closure strategy.
- Worthing volunteers
- 100 listening volunteers
- Worthing branch
- A local fixture for 57 years
- Branches in UK
- 200
- Planned closures
- Seven branches, including Worthing, Grimsby, Orkney, Caithness, Shetland, Scunthorpe and Stornoway
- Planned mergers
- Halifax and Huddersfield into Bradford; Inverness and Elgin at a new location
- Samaritans volunteers
- 14,000 listening volunteers
What people are saying
a burning platform
The harsh truth is that if we don’t do anything we are going to start to see branches failing, and we can’t let that happen
is anyone up for a fight?
My own thoughts are that Samaritans is being taken forward to oblivion.