September 08, 2025 - 608 views
Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar has met with Rhyl Samaritans to urge them to keep their branch open on Bedford Street, as 100 branches nationwide face closure.
Mr. Millar who is MS for Clwyd West emphasised the importance of the Rhyl branch's physical presence for volunteers' support and the confidentiality of calls.
He highlighted the crucial role Samaritans play in providing mental health support and called on the charity to reconsider the closures to increase their presence in communities.
Speaking after the meeting he said: “Samaritans do fantastic work delivering vital support to people of all ages and are saving lives daily, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to thank them for the work they do. However, the primary reason for the meeting was to outline my deep concern regarding the potential closure of the Rhyl branch.
“Whilst I appreciate that a closure would not be an end to the support they provide, I am concerned that losing the branch would inevitably impact the service provided from there.
“I have been in contact with volunteers who operate from there currently, and they have told me that they feel well-supported, in a way that they wouldn’t be if they were operating from home.
“If any of the volunteers are struggling with any of the calls they take, they are able to reach out to their colleagues and Branch Co-Directors for guidance, this simply won’t be possible if they are operating from home. There is also concerns regarding the confidentiality of calls if volunteers are carrying out the work remotely.
“The work carried out by Samaritans’ volunteers is nothing short of extraordinary, and without a physical base to operate from, we risk losing some of these wonderful volunteers. As well as helping others, volunteering brings a sense of well-being and purpose to the lives of the volunteers themselves, who enjoy the connections they make with other volunteers. It is therefore essential that this is also considered before any closures are made.
“With mental health problems on the rise, we should be looking to increase the presence of Samaritans in our towns and villages, not closing branches.
“I made this known during the meeting and once again called on the charity to reconsider its proposals.”
