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Samaritans accused of bullying critics of branch closure plan
The Guardian
|October 23, 2025
Samaritans has been accused of bullying and shutting down dissent after suspending senior volunteers who spoke out against its plans to close as many as half of its 200 UK branches.
The mental health charity suspended at least two of its branch directors and one former branch director on Tuesday.
It refused to elaborate on the suspensions other than to say complaints had been received about “the recent conduct of a small number of volunteers” and that these would be investigated “in the normal way”.
One volunteer said the suspensions had been greeted with outrage and disbelief. “It’s petty and stupid and self-defeating,” they said. “It’s become a bullying charity that is looking to silence voices of dissent within the organisation.”
It is understood the suspensions were felt to have targeted volunteers who were quoted in the media in recent weeks questioning the closure plans. Those affected are required to step back from their roles while an investigation is carried out.
Dit verhaal komt uit de October 23, 2025-editie van The Guardian.
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