Volunteering for Samaritans

Employee becomes a listening volunteer for Samaritans  

NFU Mutual staff member, Martin Smith, has recently become a listening volunteer for Samaritans, giving his time to be there to listen to anyone who is struggling to cope.

Martin, who works full-time, became interested in volunteering for Samaritans after hearing about our support for the charity. It was then after the first UK-wide national lockdown of the pandemic, that Martin applied to become a listening volunteer in his spare time to help give something back to the community and those who are struggling.  

Every 10 seconds someone contacts Samaritans, and listening volunteers are there for anyone who needs someone. Offering support with no judgement, listening volunteers take calls from members of the public across the UK.  

Martin said: “Throughout my life I have always volunteered, as I enjoy helping people. Being a listening volunteer, I’m having a direct impact on someone’s life and supporting them at a time when they can be at their most vulnerable. After every shift I feel I have truly made a difference. 

“I am a father; a husband; a colleague; and now I’m also a volunteer for Samaritans, and that is something I am extremely proud of.”   

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust proudly supports Samaritans, and during 2020 and 2021, the Trust donated £200,000 to the organisation to support Samaritans’ response to the impact of the pandemic, including reaching those most at risk and those in rural communities. 

Julie Bentley, CEO at Samaritans says: “At Samaritans our 22,000 incredible volunteers give their time to be there to listen. In the last year our volunteers have spent over one million hours listening to calls from people struggling to cope. There’s lots of ways to volunteer at Samaritans, from answering telephones and emails to fundraising and helping us run our branches and shops.

“We respond to a call for help every 10 seconds. It’s thanks to support from The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust that Samaritans can continue to be there, 24/7.”

Find out more about our work with Samaritans.