50 years of Samaritans helping those in Newry through the darkest moments in life

FOR over fifty years the Samaritans organisation has been helping the people of Newry through some of the most difficult and darkest times of life.

From its initial opening on Margaret Square on January 1 1973 by Reverend Bill Thompson in which it already had as many as 40 volunteers on hand to assist the prople of Newry through some of the most difficult challenges they will ever face in life, to the organisations current base of operations at Saint Colman's Park, it is without a doubt that the Samaritans have given far more back to the community of Newry, Mourne and Down than can ever be quantified in words or writing over the past five decades.

Now having just passed the fiftieth anniversary of the organisation establishing a branch in the city, the Newry Democrat now looks back on the layered and interesting history of the organisations initial founding in the city.

History of Samaritans in Newry

Samaritans Newry has its origins in 1973 when the then community council recognised the need for a caring organisation like the Samaritans in the Newry area. Subsequently they invited the then director of the Belfast Samaritans branch one Reverend Thompson to visit with them and discuss the services that the Samaritans had to offer the people of Newry.

Following Reverend Thompsons visit to Newry it was decided that a branch of the Samaritans in Newry should be established. In the initiasl stages of establishing this new branch it was decided that two local clergy men Bill Haslett and Matt O'Hare who were interested in the work of the Samaritans should attend a preparation course in Belfast.

On completion of this course arrangements were made for Bill Thompson to return to Newry on February 21 to hold two open meetings, one in Newry and one in Warrenpoint, to find a cross section of people willing to offer their services to this cause. From these two meetings 60 people volunteered their services and so in May 1972 the first preparation course in the Crown Hotel Warrenpoint began.

At this meeting a committee was formed to help with running of the branch with Anne Garvey as Secretary.

The Belfast Branch under the direction of Bill Thompson was responsible for arranging the selection and training of initial intakes.

1973

Although the training finished at the end of June with 40 volunteers available for duty their service did not commence until January 1973. The reason for this being that suitable premises could not be found. It was only through the generosity of the community council in offering the Samaritans a space at their premises in Margaret Sq,which new volunteers cleaned and painted, that the organisation was able to commence with its commendable work.

Therefore, on January 1 1973 at 3.30pm the Newry Branch of the Samaritans was officially opened by Reverend Bill Thompson, having as Director Reverend Bill Haslett, with Reverend Matt O Hare and Reverend Canon Graham as Deputy Directors.

Within a short period of opening Bill Haslett moved to Scotland and his place as Director was filled by Matt O'Hare and sometime later the vacant Deputy Director spot was filled by Tony McCormick.

The same year Ireland was designated as a region of its own so a regional committee was set up with its own chairman the Rev Sidney Callaghan of the Belfast Branch and two representatives from each branch. This committee meets three times a year and has its own regional conferences and training programmes.

1974

Unfortunately, in 1974 the building located on Margaret Square was damaged by a bomb explosion which occurred in a drapery store nearby. The damage was so severe that the Samaritans had to vacate the building immediately and find new premises. The Samaritans first moved to temporary accommodation on Hill street.

Over the next few years, the number of Volunteers increased to about 100 which allowed for additional opening hours. During this time period an annual general meeting is held in which a report is given on the work done throughout the year and a financial statement is prepared and presented by the treasurer and there is an election of officers for the coming year.

During this time leaders were selected and trained to be responsible for running the branch on a weekly rota with the Director and Deputy Directors ultimately responsible for all financial decisions and with responsibility for the effective and efficient running of the branch.

1975

In 1975 Tony McCormick took over as Director from Matt O'Hare at the end of his term of office. Owing to the increased work load the number of Deputy Directors increased with the group of deputy directors in 1975 consisting off Reverend Malcolm Graham, Eileen, McMahon, Maurice Connell, and Maeve O'Reilly

Life as a Samaritans Volunteer

“Little did I know that when I joined Samaritans back in the seventies that over fifty years later, I would still be working as a volunteer. Most of my volunteering has been with the Dundalk and Newry branch

“The ethos of Samaritans triggered my interest and led me to apply for membership. The target of the charity is to lessen the risk of callers taking their own lives. The approach is to provide emotional support so that callers can vent their feelings and emotions. This is done through emphatic listening and should the caller wish discusses options to address their difficulties. At all times the caller makes their own decisions.

“My first awakening was to the value of emphatic listening, really listening and not butting in with an opinion or solution. Samaritans training is first class and emphasises the organisations principles and practices. The service is inclusive, confidential (except where lives are at stake), non-judgemental and non-directive.

“My experience of being a Samaritans volunteer has been challenging at times, sobering to say the least when you hear of the difficulties facing some callers and demanding of concentration and patience. At the start I was naive, surely listening to callers would be straightforward but non directive listening to distraught callers can be emotionally draining. You need to listen and see things from their perspective. Fortunately, there is good support in branch, we share our concerns and offload.

“However, volunteering with Samaritans is really worthwhile and enriching. It keeps your feet on the ground, sensitises you to the harsh realities of life for many and makes you appreciate what you have. You also come to realise that tomorrow, you too may have to face life changing events and be in need of emotional support.

“I have never regretted my volunteering with Samaritans. Rather I am grateful for the opportunity. My hope is that the organisation will flourish and attract enough volunteers to continue to provide the 24/7 service. The need for emotional support was never greater, given current challenges.”