MP joins fight to save Worthing Samaritans from closure - 'an essential service'
An MP has joined the fight to save Worthing Samaritans from closure.
Beccy Cooper, Labour MP for Worthing West, wrote to the Minister for Civil Society, Vicky Foxcroft, to express her concerns over the impending closure of the town’s Samaritans branch.
The charity in Lennox Road, which has been part of the local community for 57 years, is set to close at the end of November, along with its shop in Strand Parade, Goring.
The charity’s volunteers said they were ‘heartbroken’ and ‘in shock’ following the announcement.
In her letter, Dr Cooper said: “[Volunteers] have been aware of the ongoing consultations within the national Samaritans organisation in terms of restructuring.
"They are happy to move forward with an arrangement that better serves the people accessing the service, but this outcome is a cliff edge that does not fulfil this objective."
The Samaritans central office said it is testing a network of ‘fewer, larger, better-equipped’ branches as part of a ‘future proofing’ programme.
Last year, Worthing Samaritans took more than 20,500 calls from people in need of support.
A Samaritans spokesperson said: “This decision is about the shape of our future network, not the commitment of Worthing's volunteers.”
The closure of the Worthing branch leaves Brighton as the nearest location for volunteers. However, of the 19 volunteers interviewed by the Worthing Herald, none felt that travelling to Brighton for their shifts was a feasible option.
Mark White, vice director of Worthing Samaritans, described the situation as a ‘postcode lottery’.
He said: “It’s not about what you offer our callers, it’s about where you are.”
The charity also said it is piloting home volunteering which would ‘offer more flexibility’. However, this scheme won’t be available for volunteers until summer 2027 at the earliest, according to Dr Cooper.
In her letter, Dr Cooper questioned why Worthing had been selected for closure when other branches in the South East remained open, adding that Worthing volunteers felt ‘singled out’.
She said: "Given that travel between Worthing and Brighton is difficult and that homeworking will not be an option, the Worthing volunteers (many of whom have decades of experience) feel that they are collateral damage in a corporate restructure that is not mindful of the experience and value brought by this local group to our communities.
“I would therefore ask that you request that Samaritans do not close the Worthing branch at this time, allowing the homeworking option to be introduced and the broader South East restructure to be discussed with other branches.
"Samaritans is an essential service, and it is vital that the volunteers, who are the backbone of it, are treated with respect and dignity.”