Samaritans Isle of Man is asking whether you could give the greatest gift this Christmas; your time to listen to someone who needs to talk.

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope or who needs to talk, and the charity relies on volunteers to answer phones, emails and texts 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

In the run-up to Christmas, there will be an opportunity to find out more about what volunteering involves at an information session on Tuesday 15th December.

Tracey Fuller, Director of Samaritans Isle of Man, said: ‘Many people are aware of what Samaritans does, but perhaps don’t know that they could be supporting our work by giving up just a few hours of their time.

‘Volunteering with Samaritans is both rewarding and challenging, and our volunteers are ordinary people who have made the choice to do something special. The simple act of listening can be life-changing for the volunteer and the caller, and a small amount of your time really could be the greatest gift this Christmas.’

Samaritans Isle of Man hosts regular information sessions at its centre, 5 Victoria Place in Douglas. They are an informal opportunity to find out more about volunteering, meet current volunteers and ask questions. If you would like to volunteer, you’ll be invited to a selection session to find out more about you and how you could get involved.

Tracey added: ‘People can be put off volunteering for a variety of reasons, and the information sessions are an opportunity to address those concerns and answer any other questions people might have. It’s also a great chance to meet other volunteers and find out that they come from all walks of life.

‘There’s no commitment when you pop in to meet us, just a chance to discover how you could make a real difference.’

She continued: ‘Samaritans offers the only emotional support which is confidential, non-judgmental and available 24 hours a day, and we rely on volunteers to maintain this essential service. If you think you might be interested but are not sure it’s right for you, we’d love the opportunity to chat with you so please come along to meet us.’

The next information session takes place from 6-8pm on Tuesday 15th December at Samaritans Isle of Man, 5 Victoria Place, Douglas. There’s no need to make an appointment, you can just drop in and leave when you choose.

If you can’t make that date, there will be another information session on 26th January at Keyll Darree near Noble’s Hospital. For more information about the sessions or about volunteering, email samaritans@manx.net.