SAMARITANS has won one of the most sought-after awards in the charitable sector for its work in prisons, including training prisoners to serve as ‘listeners’ in HMP Exeter.

Samaritans’ Listener Scheme - where prisoners volunteer to listen to others who are distressed or in despair - won the Cross-Sector Partnership of the Year Award for its work with the National Offender Management Service.

The HMP Exeter work is led by a deputy director of the local Samaritans branch, Paula Longden.

She and her team have trained 19 prisoners to become listeners this year alone, although because Exeter is a remand prison, many have moved on to continue listening roles in other prisons or institutions.

“On average we have around six prisoners volunteering as listeners at any one time in HMP Exeter and this award is a tribute to them” explains Paula.

“The listeners perform a great duty to fellow prisoners at what can be a very stressful and despairing time, especially if this is their first experience of prison” she says.

“It’s really heart-warming to see the listeners themselves grow in confidence as they support other prisoners who are finding it hard to cope.”

Samaritans and the prison service have been working together to reduce suicide and self-harm since 1991. Last year alone, more than 1,500 trained listeners answered 75,000 requests for support from the prison population across the country.

“Samaritans provide a superb service. Their work is valued by staff and offenders alike. Listeners operate on a daily basis and a significant number of offenders have been supported by them” says Dave Crawford, Head of Residence and Safety at HMP Exeter.

“We’re delighted that Samaritans have received this award. It’s very well deserved recognition for the contribution they make to safety in prisons.”

Samaritans, the local branch of which operates across Exeter and East Devon, is funded entirely by voluntary donations. It offers support to people who are distressed or in despair which may lead to thoughts of suicide. People can talk to us at any time, in their own way and in confidence, about whatever is going on in their life