SUMMERTIME, just like Christmas is a great time of joy for most people, but it's also a time of great expectations.

The pressure to 'have a good time,' take the kids on holiday, have fun, can in fact be a nightmare to many.

Single people, parents on low incomes, unmarried mothers, the recently bereaved, those heavily in debt or being beaten or abused behind closed doors, often put on a brave face for family and friends, while falling apart inside.

They may sink into depression because they think they have no-one to turn to. No-one they know who they feel they can pour out their hearts to, but they would be wrong.

Samaritan volunteers are on the other end of a phone for those in distress night and day, 365 days of the year.

They don't hand out advice and they don't judge, they just listen with a sympathetic ear and provide emotional support to people going through a bad time.

Callers can discuss anything with Samaritans in total confidence whatever the problem, even if they have done something they are terribly ashamed of. No names are taken and no calls are monitored.

One of the volunteers based at Worcester, Michael, said: "Talking problems over with a stranger on the phone can be such a relief to people.

"We are not counsellors, but in the course of discussion a caller can often find his or her own solution, merely by having the chance to talk things through without interruption or prejudice.

"We receive calls from a huge area of the country, as well as from the Vale of Evesham where many of our volunteers also live."

Samaritans urge people in distress to ring them before their situation deteriorates and perhaps their minds turn to thoughts of suicide.

Even then, the policy is not to persuade people against taking their own lives - but to discuss the options, and be there for them.

For Journal readers who do not need the Samaritans at present, but the scenarios above have touched their hearts, then the charity is always on the look-out for more volunteers.

More than 80 are needed to cover the weekly three and a half-hour shifts and one nightly duty a month required from each volunteer.

Anyone applying will be invited to attend an open evening at Sansome Walk in Worcester. After an initial interview and various security checks, free comprehensive training is available and lots of support before manning the phone lines.

Volunteers from all walks of life including social workers, teachers, rock musicians and mechanics, with an age range from 20 upwards lend a listening ear at the local branch.

One volunteer, Joan, who lives near Evesham, said: "I joined nearly three years ago when the Samaritans put out an urgent call for volunteers nationally.

"Having brought up three children who have now left home, I felt I had more time to spend giving something back to the community. Offering emotional support to people in distress is certainly not fun - but it can be very rewarding.

"The best part of any shift is when callers say 'thank you for listening, I feel better now'. It's a tragedy when people take their own lives needlessly. Death is very final - if people can just see the light at the end of the tunnel, then lives can be saved and turned around."

Finally, for those who do not need the service now, or do not feel able to become directly involved with callers, then Samaritans also need fundraisers.

In order to keep the branch going the local charity needs to raise £20,000 a year.

Some of the money comes in grants, but an awful lot is raised by volunteers themselves with their collection boxes on the streets of Evesham, Pershore, Broadway and other towns in the county, as well as at events such as the Three Counties Showground and the Upton Jazz Festival.

For those in distress, or perspective volunteers and fundraisers, contact the Samaritans on 0845790 90 90.