Samaritans have launched its new partnership with Amey Infrastructure Wales Limited (AIW) who operate the infrastructure on the Core Valley Line in the South Wales Valleys.
The launch took place at Merthyr Tydfil Station on Monday 13th May.
The partnership means staff from AIW will be supported in their suicide prevention activities across Cardiff and the Vale, Gwent, and Cwm Taff Morgannwg, and Samaritans volunteers from across the region – will be able to offer specialist support to rail workers who have to deal with crisis situations.
Additionally, 12 Samaritans volunteers from across the South Wales Valleys will receive enhanced training to allow them to go outside of their usual in-branch duties – including answer phone calls – to offer emotional support in other formats, such as in person support at local community events, enabling us to reach people who may not otherwise have known about the help they can access.
Samaritans will also distribute bilingual materials from their award-winning campaigns including ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ – which aims to give the public the confidence to act if they notice someone who may be distressed or in need of support – ‘Real People Real Stories’, a campaign which encourages middle-aged men to seek help.
In the first year of the programme, up to 80 rail staff will be able to enrol on the charity’s training course which will equipe them with the skills to intervene with vulnerable people. Rail staff will also be able to participate in training that will teach them how to better support themselves and others following a traumatic incident.
Bethan Hodges, Regional Development Lead, Wales and Western said:
“As the rail lead for Samaritans in Wales, I am looking forward to working with AIW across the Core Valley Line to ensure that we give staff, customers, and the communities they serve the best possible support.”
James Holmes, Amey’s Rail Director, said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our people, those travelling on the network and the communities in which we operate is always our main priority. Through our safety practice, Zero Code, we educate and support our teams and our partners on how to stay safe and speak out if they have any safety concerns. Collaborating with the Samaritans and supporting them in delivering suicide prevention activities is a highly effective way to ensure our people have the training and skills to help those who have experienced or who are in need.”