A time to GIVE BACK

Two women talk about volunteering for Samaritans at Christmas

WORDS: SERENA SHORES.

‘Being a Samaritan truly encapsulates the Christmas spirit’ Hayley Gerrard, 54, lives in Norwich. She is a complex bereavement liaison worker for Norfolk and Waveney Mind. I remember my dad exclaiming in frustration, ‘If I pay you, will you answer the phone?!’ As a child, I wouldn’t even talk to my grandparents when they rang. It seems so strange that now I pick up the phone with ease and speak to people from all walks of life about their worries. My first experience with Samaritans was when I was young and struggling with my own mental health. My mum arranged for me to meet her friend, who was a volunteer. I remember how empowered I felt being able to talk about my feelings. In 1993, I contacted Samaritans myself when…

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Woman's Weekly (Digital) - 1 Issue, 29-Nov-22

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