How to find us

Samaritans was founded in London by the Rev. Chad Varah in 1953.  Although started by a vicar, the movement remains secular, non political and open to any person who needs emotional support regardless of colour, creed, ethnic background or religious convictions.

The Bath & District branch has been in operation since October 1964 and the then Rector of Bath Abbey, the Rev Geoffery Lester, initiated its formation. We first met in a room at the top of Abbey Church House (adjacent to the island by the Technical College) and although at the beginning 65 people signed on to be volunteers, several fell out during training and the branch eventually settled down with a membership of about 40. Working closely with the newly opened Bristol branch, Bath was open during the evenings (from 6-10pm) with one telephone line – and often only one volunteer, whilst the line was switched to a designated Samaritan at home overnight!

In 1967, with 92 volunteers in the branch, a move to new premises took place and the branch moved to rented premises at 3 Henry Street (this was at the rear of the then Woolworths looking directly down the road to the rear exit of the Ham Gardens car park). These new premises had two very small rooms at the top of a 4 storey house, with one telephone, one small notice-board, one small desk, one small window and very low ceilings.

By 1972 it was time for another change and the branch moved to 2 New King Street. This move was done in one day and due to the need for confidentiality, was done ‘in house’, as was work on the new premises where alterations were needed to make the building operational. Over the years many alterations were made to 2 New King Street, but by 1998 it was felt that larger premises were needed. Additions and modifications to the existing premises for disabled callers and volunteers were not possible, so after a long search and visits to other branches, premises were eventually found at 10 Newbridge Hill and the fourth move of the branch took place on 11th May 1998. We now have a training room, listening and administration rooms, plus two rooms for visitors to the centre. In 2007 the branch received over 22,500 contacts from callers and currently has 90 volunteers, serving an area which covers places such as Bath, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Keynsham, Wells, Shepton Mallet and Frome.

Throughout the years we have relied wholly on volunteers to operate the Centre. As well as the core work of answering phones, replying to emails and seeing visitors, the volunteers maintain all outreach activities, in prisons (we support a Listeners’ scheme at Leyhill Open Prison and visit Ashfield YOI), in schools, clubs and organisations etc. It is also the volunteers who do the fundraising to support these activities as we receive very little funding from either local or national government.