Samaritans to push on with branch closures despite volunteers’ objections

Samaritans, a prominent mental health charity in the UK, is moving forward with plans to close some of its 200 local branches, despite objections from its volunteers. The charity's chief executive, Julie Bentley, has stated that these changes are necessary to modernize the 70-year-old organization and make it more efficient. The charity has reportedly reduced the number of sites it plans to shut down, but insists that "change needs to happen." Bentley has outlined plans to establish three-year regional projects that will be "co-created" with volunteers, aiming to develop more efficient ways of working, including branch mergers and closures. The proposed changes have sparked concerns among Samaritans' volunteers, who play a crucial role in the organization's operations. However, the charity's leadership believes that these restructuring efforts are essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Samaritans in providing mental health support to the community.