Austin Mitchell and Ann Syrett present this series of programmes promoting voluntary and community service, focusing on people in the community who give up their own time to help others. The programme aims to provide a clear understanding of the nature and the extent of voluntary work that's done, or needs to be done in many areas of social need throughout the Yorkshire region. This episode focuses on the work of the Samaritans. Title: Yorkshire Television – Colour Production...

Austin Mitchell and Ann Syrett present this series of programmes promoting voluntary and community service, focusing on people in the community who give up their own time to help others. The programme aims to provide a clear understanding of the nature and the extent of voluntary work that's done, or needs to be done in many areas of social need throughout the Yorkshire region. This episode focuses on the work of the Samaritans. Title: Yorkshire Television – Colour Production Photographs of urban street scenes and candid shots of individuals make up the opening for the programme. Title: A Matter for Concern The film opens as a worker for the Samaritans takes a phone call. The programme shows another call being taken by a different operator. The programme moves to the studio where Austin Mitchell introduces the programme and co-presenter Ann Syrett sits next to him, opposite them are two guests. Austin explains that the film clips are from Canada where a phone service offers help to those in serious distress and possibly suicidal. Austin talks of the Samaritans a similar organisation in Britain. Title: Austin Mitchell On the screen behind Austin is a typical newspaper advert for the Samaritans, which reads; ‘ANYONE desperate? Suicidal – Samaritans, Leeds 34567 or Wakefield 77011, any time.’ Austin says that no one has seen the Samaritans at work, as only fellow Samaritans are allowed in the operations room. Austin introduces the studio guests who will be interviewed later in the programme, Richard Fox from the Samaritans, and Mrs Marjorie Ashdown a tutor with the Marriage Guidance Council. Austin introduces the next segment of the programme which features a training session for those wanting to become part of the Samaritans service. A man walks down the footpath towards the Samaritans premises. He opens the door, which has a small notice on it which reads; ‘The Samaritans Please Enter And Ring The Bell’. The man then appears on a phone apparently taking a call for the Samaritans. Next to him a woman also on a phone, appears to be taking on the role of someone in distress and making a call to the Samaritans. Next a man speaks on camera and provides the statistic that two and a half thousand people phone the Samaritans for the first time each year. Total calls are around fourteen thousand. The man and woman seen earlier creating an emergency call are joined by two women and another man. The woman who played the caller welcomes the new visitors to the fifth week of ‘prep’ courses. They talk through issues that have appeared in the training sessions so far. The emphasis for the Samaritan is to learn that they are not judgemental, and they must listen carefully and that callers must be assured they are speaking to a Samaritan in complete confidence. The meeting is about the three main issues which they have covered so far in their training, where callers seek help with marital, psychological and sexual problems. The man who appeared earlier citing the number of phone calls the service gets, talks about the training classes which are varied. Recently they’ve had seven evening meetings lasting about two hours each. He says they are continually assessing their training methods. The programme goes back to the review of training sessions, which was a visit from a doctor who gave advice regarding callers with psychological problems. One member of the group talks about deep depression which affected him earlier in his life, but in the town where he lived at the time there were no Samaritans. The group go on to discuss issues with suicidal clients. One member of the group needed some assurance with this topic, especially with some information she needed clarification on following the doctor’s visit to the group. The group then go through their experiences of an earlier telephone training session. They also talk about assurance of confidentiality which was seen to be a high priority, followed by a non-judgemental attitude and the ability to listen. The group then start a new telephone training session, where each trainee takes a phone call from the organiser of the group who takes the role of a caller. The group review the performance of each operator during a call. The man seen earlier talking about Samaritan training says that occasionally they can’t deal with a problem completely over the phone. A discussion may improve a situation and a crisis abates, but sometimes it can’t be done. For example, if tablets have been taken or they are about to be taken. In cases like this the only resort is to go out to the client. Two people are always on call to visit someone if the situation dictates it. The programme goes back to the studio. Austin Mitchell asks Richard Fox of the Samaritans what the most pressing problems are for the Samaritans. Title: Dr. Richard Fox, Consultant Psychiatrist to the Samaritans Dr Fox updates some of the statistics quoted in the film. He quotes that marital, financial and accommodation problems are possibly the most common types of call they receive. He says loneliness and depression perhaps exacerbate a tendency to suicidal thoughts, and sexual problems are also common topics for callers. He also mentions an increasing in the number of children under 15 calling the Samaritans. Marjorie Ashdown from the Marriage Guidance Council is asked whether their service is a problem solving service as opposed to the Samaritans which is a listening service. Title: Marjorie Ashdown – Tutor, National Marriage Guidance Council She thinks that the Marriage Guidance Council is more of a problem solving service than the Samaritans. As far as volunteers are concerned, they look for many sorts of people on whose life experience they can build their training. Also they expect volunteers to be in touch with their own feelings. Dr Fox says that many Samaritans volunteers will have had experience of suicide in their own family or with friends. He goes on to say they don’t rule out volunteers who have had mental breakdown or have attempted suicide, but they need to assess them so that they can take into consideration their own vulnerability. Marjorie Ashdown in response to a question about training from Austin outlines the training involving their volunteers. Marjorie also points out that they also get enquiries from those who are not married, divorced, widowed and others. In response to Ann Syretts question about the nature of these queries, Marjorie confirms that all the enquiries deal with personal relationships. Austin Mitchell asks Dr Fox about the anonymity of the people providing the service in the Samaritans. Dr Fox replies that it is mainly for the protection of volunteers who have family lives of their own. Ann Syrett then speaks on camera about volunteering for both organisations. She invites viewers to write to the contact address. ‘Concern’ Yorkshire Television Television Centre Leeds LS3 1JS Austin Mitchell closes the programme with a summary of the topics to follow in the next programme. Credits: Presenters – Ann Syrett, Austin Mitchell Camera – Mostafa Hammuri Sound – Stan Ellison Film Editor – Allen Jewhurst Graphics - Brian Beardmore Research – Irene Cockroft Producer – Jim McCann Yorkshire Television Colour Production End Title - © Trident Television Ltd MCMLXXVI