Listening Volunteers

Reading Station – Brew Monday

Reading station hosted a ‘Brew Monday’ event in a bid to banish the January blues and reach out to anyone who may be lonely and in need of a cuppa and chat.

Small talk can save lives

Figures released by Network Rail show a 20% increase in the number of times the public has acted to prevent suicide in the rail environment.

Brew Monday

‘Brew Monday’ takes place on ‘Blue Monday’ – the third Monday of January, discussed in the media as the most difficult day of the year. Whilst there is a little science behind Blue Monday, the start of a new year is a difficult and lonely time for many.

Small Talk expert wins Samaritans Lifesaver Award

Winner of the Samaritans Lifesaver award, Rizwan Javed, who works for MTR Crossrail, was presented with the award, which recognises people who have used their talking and listening skills to save lives, at the Rail Staff Awards at NEC in Birmingham.

Samaritans Supporting Prisons

Paul Johnson, Samaritans Listening Volunteer

At Network Rail we are fortunate to have five paid volunteer leave days per year, so I have used mine to help the Samaritans. As a Samaritan Listening Volunteer, I have used several days to take-up weekly day time shifts – allowing me to experience some different types of call from those I usually get on my evening, night time and weekend shifts.

Being a Listening Volunteer

Paul Johnson, Samaritans Listening Volunteer

I decided to do this because I felt an urge to ‘give something back’ to society so I was looking for a way to do this that I could fit around my family life and work.

Turn a blue Monday into a Brew Monday

In January we turned what is widely considered one of the most difficult days of the year, ‘Blue Monday’ (the third Monday in January), into Brew Monday!