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Helpline charity marks 100th birthday of founder

Monday 14 November, 2011

By Anthony Hill

Varah, who set up Samaritans in the 1950s, was born on 12 November, 1911.

Samaritans celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founder’s birth at the weekend.

Until his death four years ago, Chad Varah, born on 12 November, 1911, had dedicated his whole life to helping people in distress, by listening to their problems over the telephone.

When he launched Samaritans in 1953, it became the world’s first 24-hour telephone helpline. It significantly raised public awareness of suicide at a time when it was illegal, and a taboo subject unfit for open discussion.

But Varah believed that if a struggling person could share their worries in confidence - without being judged by others - they could start to overcome even the most difficult of feelings.

His daughter, Felicity Varah Harding, said: “My father would’ve been thrilled to know that the charity’s 18,750 volunteers are continuing his legacy - reaching out to those struggling to cope.

“Samaritans receives five million calls a year - that’s one every five seconds. Without the commitment of all the dedicated volunteers both past and present, we couldn’t keep the service running.”

Varah’s inspiration for setting up Samaritans came when he worked for an undertaker at the age of 14. One funeral he witnessed was for a young girl who took her own life because she feared she was seriously ill - when in actual fact she had started to menstruate.

Stephen Hoddell, chair of Samaritans, said that even as the charity expanded, Varah’s original principle, of reaching out to anyone in need, had “never changed”.

“We’re here round the clock for anyone who needs to talk in confidence.”

Samaritans is available for anyone feeling down, depressed or anxious. Volunteers can be contacted 24 hours a day to offer confidential support by telephone, on 08457 90 90 90.