About
Samaritans in Spain began in July 2008 and was launched under the registered name of Costa Blanca Samaritans. We are a member of Befrienders Worldwide, an organisation made up of listening service providers from across the globe. We are very much based on the established Samaritans model, which has been in operation in the UK since 1953. We are available to all English speakers, irrespective of nationality, who reside in mainland Spain and the Islands.
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Our service is offered via FREEPHONE 900 525 100 and we are there for when you have feelings that need to be expressed in order to protect your well being. We want to help you to feel empowered - to take back some control.
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In taking that important step and calling our number, we want you to feel safe in the knowledge that you can talk with us in total confidence and without judgement. For this reason, our volunteers undergo extensive training and mentoring sessions before being permitted to take calls.
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As well as our listening service, we also have our charity shop which is based in Punta Marina Commercial Centre on the Costa Blanca.
Our Board of Trustees
Les Holloway
Vice President/Retail
Les moved permanently to Spain after retiring in January 2018 from the position of Group Company Secretary for a UK public company.
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He also administered the Billngton Charity Foundation. He has three grown up children and six grand-children. Hobbies include travel and lawn bowls. He was co-opted to the Board in July 2019 and appointed as a Trustee in December 2019.
Ade Webster
Treasurer
Ade served in the Royal Air Force for 34.5 years before retiring as a Flight Sergeant and moving to Spain in 2017. His background is in Administration and HR.
He has been involved with amongst other things, accounting, welfare and personnel issues throughout his long career. He is married to Jo and has three grown up children and two grandchildren. He was accepted onto the Board of Trustees in late 2018.
Donna Williams
President/Marketing
Donna moved to Spain in 2012 having previously lived on the island of Crete. She has a marketing background that spans some 18 years.
As well as acting as a freelance marketer, she also has experience of working with the shipping industry. Donna has a grown up daughter and in her spare time enjoys watching her sing. She was accepted onto the Board of Trustees in late 2018.
Joanna Urbanek
Listening Services
Joanna has a background in social work and community development gained from working with a variety of non-profit charities.
Her roles revolved around working with people with physical and learning disabilities as well as mental illness. She currently lives in Spain with her family and enjoys walks on the beach with her two dogs. She was accepted onto the Board of Trustees in July 2021.
David Upjohn
Listener Training & Recruitment
After living in Hastings for thirty one years, David moved to Spain in July 2020. His life has been devoted to the care and empowerment of others.
He has spent over 20 years as as a specialist foster carer, providing 24 hour care to children with complex disabilities and terminal conditions.
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Now retired, he spends his time as a Samaritan listener, reading and exploring all that Spain has to offer.
We believe in the importance of having the opportunity to explore difficult feelings.
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We believe that being listened to in confidence and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings.
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We believe that everyone has the right to make fundamental decisions about their own life, including the decision to die by suicide.
Our Mission
Samaritans in Spain is available to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.
Our Vision
The Samaritan vision is for a society in which:
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Fewer people die by suicide
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People are able to explore their feelings
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People are able to acknowledge and respect the feeling of others.
Our Objectives
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To enable people of any age who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those who may be at risk of suicide, to receive confidential emotional support from appropriately trained Samaritans in order to improve their emotional health and to reduce the incidence of suicide.
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To promote a better understanding in society, of suicidal behaviour and the value of expressing feelings which may otherwise lead to suicide or impaired medical health.