Life-saving Samaritans look to shape a sustainable future

Branches of suicide prevention charity Samaritans in Leeds and across Yorkshire could close.

- by Nicola Adam

The confirmation follows reports earlier this year that it was consulting on plans to close around half of its branches across the UK and Ireland. That could equate to around 100 of the more than 200 locations it runs, with the charity saying at the time the current operation was "not sustainable".

Founded in 1953, the charity connects trained volunteers with people who may be struggling. Currently there are multiple branches across Yorkshire including Samaritans of Leeds where a team of more than 150 volunteers provides confidential, emotional support. Other branches in Yorkshire include Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster, Halifax, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Northallerton, Rotherham, Scarborough, Sheffield, Wakefield, and York.