The Listening Place Seeks To Recruit More Volunteers


Provides face to face support for people considering suicide


The charity has recently opened up a new centre in Hammersmith

The Listening Place, a charity based on Shepherd's Bush Road, is seeking to recruit more volunteers from the local area for its new centre in Hammersmith.

The award-winning organisation offers free, confidential and ongoing face-to-face listening, by appointment, to anyone aged 18 or over who feels that life is no longer worth living.

Its aim is to relieve the suffering of adults from suicidal feelings and it relies on trained volunteers to provide this vital confidential service.

Carefully trained and selected volunteers will get to work in a supportive environment, backed by experienced mental health professionals, and have regular meetings with ‘Visitors’ who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, plans and actions.

The Listening Place provides fortnightly sessions, based on active listening and befriending: building trust and a supportive relationship, usually for 3 month period. Its own impact measurement shows that this helps people with suicidal thoughts to openly discuss, examine and reflect on their situation with a warm and supportive Volunteer.

The Listening Place can currently support more than 4000 visitors per year and receives referrals at the rate of over 500 per month and that is increasing every month. Its referrals come from more than 130 partners including the NHS, charities, the Police and Social Services. Visitors are referred by many different parts of the NHS but particularly A&E Departments, mental health triage services, IAPT services and GP practices. The many charities who make referrals include Hestia, Maytree and British Red Cross.

People from all walks of life and any life circumstances can feel that life is no longer worth living. The people who we support come from a widely diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and ethnicities; many have been the victims of incredibly challenging situations.

Current volunteer Craig Morley says, “We need warm, empathetic and caring individuals who want to help others and have the time to offer ongoing, non-judgmental, face-to-face support.

“We support thousands of visitors every week and have about 500 volunteers, including at our new visitor site on Shepherd’s Bush Road at Hammersmith.”

If you visit the charity’s website you will find more information including a video for prospective volunteers.

 

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July 15, 2022