Samaritans, The Upper Mill, Kingston Rd, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 2AF

The Samaritans is a major charity providing counselling, most famously through its round the clock telephone helpline, but also through drop-in, prison, school and internet programmes. The organisation was founded by London vicar Chad Varah, as a helpline for the suicidal. Despite the name, bestowed on the fledgling body by coverage in the Daily Mirror newspaper, and the involvement of Varah and other members of the clergy, it is an organisationally secular body. Today, almost 20,000 volunteers provide the confidential service in around 200 local branches. In 2003, Samaritans (UK & ROI) took on the former Befrienders International (now called Befrienders Worldwide) network of over 400 volunteer centers in 39 countries, across 6 continents. Befrienders International was an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Charity no. 219432, company no. 757372. Source: www.samaritans.org; http://www.befrienders.org

Befrienders International