For many years, Samaritans of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District has had a local presence in our community, operating from Alexandra Road in Grimsby.   We want to make sure it stays that way. 

Samaritans is changing how its network of branches operates. Yorkshire and Humberside has been selected as one of three pathfinder areas where new ways of working are being developed. Samaritans has said this will include scaling up some branches, merging others and, regrettably, closing some.   We understand why Samaritans wants to modernise. It wants more people to get through when they need help, expand online support and make volunteering more accessible. Those are ambitions we support. 
But local branches help make the national service possible. 

Calls aren't simply routed to someone's nearest branch. Samaritans operates a national network, with callers connected to the first available volunteer regardless of location.  That means volunteers based in Grimsby aren't just there for people in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. They are part of a national network supporting people who need someone to listen.   Keeping a branch in Grimsby therefore isn't about preserving an old-fashioned local telephone service. It's about keeping a local base where people from Grimsby, Cleethorpes and the surrounding area can volunteer and contribute to that national service. 

If closing or merging a branch makes it harder for existing volunteers to continue, or for new volunteers to get involved, that could work against the aim of having more volunteers available to answer calls.    The test should be simple: will any proposed change actually result in more volunteers being available to answer more calls?  This petition is about speaking up early, while the future shape of the service in Yorkshire and Humberside is being considered. 

Our ask 
We call on Samaritans to retain a locally based branch serving Grimsby, Cleethorpes and the surrounding area, enabling local volunteers to continue contributing to its national service.   Before any proposal to merge, relocate or close the existing branch, we ask Samaritans to demonstrate that the change would increase, rather than reduce, the number and availability of volunteers able to answer people who need help. 

Please sign and share 
If you believe Grimsby and Cleethorpes should continue to have a local Samaritans branch, please sign this petition today. Then share it with friends, family, colleagues and local groups and ask them to add their names too.   The more people who speak up now, the clearer the message will be: 

Modernise the service. Answer more calls. 
But keep Samaritans local in Grimsby and Cleethorpes.