Mostly Verified
Confidence: Medium
StandardThe provided text is a verbatim (and heavily templated) scrape of a Guardian news article dated 22 October 2025 about internal dissent and volunteer suspensions at Samaritans in the context of proposed branch closures. High-priority factual elements that can be corroborated with up-to-date, reputable sources (Guardian article page itself; Samaritans’ own organisational pages; and reputable sector/press coverage) are broadly supported: Samaritans’ long-term plan/consultation to reduce its branch footprint by around half over ~7–10 years; scale of branch network (>200 / ~201) and volunteer base (~20,000–22,000); and the ‘call every 10 seconds’ public-facing metric. The core allegation—bullying/stifling dissent via suspensions of specific senior volunteers—cannot be independently confirmed beyond the Guardian’s reporting and therefore remains Unverified (not adjudicated False).
Verified Claims
Unverified Claims
Detected Biases:
Language Patterns
Emotional manipulation: 0.18
Level: Medium
Confidence is medium because the structural/numeric claims and the existence/date of the Guardian reporting are well corroborated by primary organisational pages and multiple reputable secondary outlets. However, the most serious and central allegation (bullying/stifling dissent via targeted suspensions) relies primarily on a single news report and a non-specific spokesperson comment; without primary documentation or additional independent reporting, it must remain Unverified, limiting overall certainty.
Query: The Guardian "Samaritans accused of stifling dissent and bullying" Wed 22 Oct 2025 12.00 EDT
Confirmed the article exists with the stated title/date and contains the key reported allegations and quotes.
Query: Samaritans plans to close half of its 200 branches 201 branches UK and Ireland 22,000 trained volunteers call every 10 seconds
Independent corroboration found for the branch-closure consultation plan and broad scale metrics (branches/volunteers/call-frequency phrasing).
Query: Samaritans chair Keith Leslie trustees Samaritans governance and structure
Verified Keith Leslie’s chair role via Samaritans’ governance pages.
Query: Samaritans 'every 10 seconds' call metric Samaritans why we need your help
Confirmed Samaritans’ own site uses the ‘every 10 seconds’ style metric and provides annual call-volume context.
Query: UK Parliament written question Samaritans close at least half branches HL10027
Used as contextual corroboration that the closures were a matter of public/political discussion in 2025 (not proof of suspensions).
# Samaritans accused of stifling dissent and bullying over branch closure plans | Charities | The Guardian [Skip to main content]( to navigation](
Close dialogue 1/1 Next image Previous image Toggle caption
[Skip to navigation](
## Support the Guardian
Fund independent journalism
[Support from $3.45 a week]( from $3.45 a week](
[Print subscriptions](
[Newsletters](
[Sign in](
US
* [US edition]( * [UK edition]( * [Australia edition]( * [Europe edition]( * [International edition](
[The Guardian - Back to home The Guardian](
- [x]
* [News]( * [Opinion]( * [Sport]( * [Culture]( * [Lifestyle](
Show more Hide expanded menu
* - [x] News * [View all News]( * [US news]( * [US politics]( * [World news]( * [Climate crisis]( * [Middle East]( * [Ukraine]( * [US immigration]( * [Soccer]( * [Business]( * [Environment]( * [Tech]( * [Science]( * [Newsletters]( * [The Filter]( * [Wellness](
* - [x] Opinion * [View all Opinion]( * [The Guardian view]( * [Columnists]( * [Letters]( * [Opinion videos]( * [Cartoons](
* - [x] Sport * [View all Sport]( * [Soccer]( * [NFL]( * [Tennis]( * [MLB]( * [MLS]( * [NBA]( * [WNBA]( * [NHL]( * [F1]( * [Golf](
* - [x] Culture * [View all Culture]( * [Film]( * [Books]( * [Music]( * [Art & design]( * [TV & radio]( * [Stage]( * [Classical]( * [Games](
* - [x] Lifestyle * [View all Lifestyle]( * [The Filter]( * [Wellness]( * [Fashion]( * [Food]( * [Recipes]( * [Love & sex]( * [Home & garden]( * [Health & fitness]( * [Family]( * [Travel]( * [Money](
* Search input google-search Search
* [Support us]( * [Print subscriptions]( * [Newsletters]( * [Download the app](
* * [Search jobs]( * [Digital Archive]( * [Guardian Licensing]( * [Live events]( * [About Us]( * [The Guardian app]( * [Video]( * [Podcasts]( * [Pictures]( * [Inside the Guardian]( * [Guardian Weekly]( * [Crosswords]( * [Wordiply]( * [Corrections]( * [Tips](
* Search input google-search Search * [Search jobs]( * [Digital Archive]( * [Guardian Licensing]( * [Live events]( * [About Us](
* [UK]( * [UK politics]( * [Education]( * [Media]( * [Society]( * [Law]( * [Scotland]( * [Wales]( * [Northern Ireland](
- [x]
A Samaritans poster outside Lime Street station in Liverpool. The charity has plans to shut as many as half of its 200 UK branches. Photograph: Paul Quayle/Alamy
[View image in fullscreen](
A Samaritans poster outside Lime Street station in Liverpool. The charity has plans to shut as many as half of its 200 UK branches. Photograph: Paul Quayle/Alamy
[Charities](
This article is more than **6 months old**
# Samaritans accused of stifling dissent and bullying over branch closure plans
This article is more than 6 months old
Claim comes after charity suspends a number of senior volunteers who spoke out publicly against proposals
[Patrick Butler]( Social policy editor
Wed 22 Oct 2025 12.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 23 Oct 2025 00.10 EDT
Share
[Prefer the Guardian on Google](
Samaritans has been accused of bullying behaviour and shutting down dissent after suspending a number of senior volunteers who spoke out publicly against its [controversial plans]( to close as many as half of its 200 UK branches.
The mental health charity suspended at least two of its branch directors and one former branch director on Tuesday, 48 hours before its annual general meeting.
It refused to elaborate on the suspensions other than to say complaints had been received about “the recent conduct of a small number of volunteers” and that these would be investigated “in the normal way”.
One volunteer said the suspensions had been greeted with outrage and disbelief. “It’s petty and stupid and self-defeating,” they said. “It’s become a bullying charity that is looking to silence voices of dissent within the organisations.”
It is understood the suspensions have targeted volunteers who were quoted in the media in recent weeks questioning Samaritans’ closure plans. Those affected are required to step back from their roles while an investigation is carried out.
Samaritans has about 22,000 trained volunteers who answer calls and messages from people in mental health crisis at 201 branches across the UK and Ireland. Its helplines receive a call every 10 seconds.
The charity’s proposals to shut down scores of its local branches over the next decade and move volunteer call handlers into large regional centres emerged in August and were greeted with dismay by a number of its volunteers.
Those critical of the proposals were concerned that they would undermine local connections and fundraising relationships, and lead to hundreds of older volunteers quitting because they would be unable or unwilling to travel to the new centres.
Samaritans insisted the [changes]( would make it more efficient by enabling it to answer more calls, cut waiting times and attract more call handlers. It rejected claims it had not properly consulted or listened to its volunteers.
Six volunteer branch directors and one former branch director [wrote to the charity’s board]( in September calling for a vote of no confidence in its chair, Keith Leslie, and insisting the closure proposals were paused “in the spirit of safeguarding the mission and integrity of Samaritans”.
The charity initially appeared to adopt [a more conciliatory approach]( in response, admitting its proposals had affected volunteer morale. It said some closures would regrettably be inevitable, but promised to work closely with volunteers to trial new ways of delivering the service.
Some volunteers were heartened by the new approach, but the suspensions threaten to reignite ill-feeling towards what critics say is an increasingly controlling and centralised charity out of touch with its local roots.
[skip past newsletter promotion](
Sign up to First Edition
Free daily newsletter
Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
Enter your email address
Marketing preferences
- [x]
Get updates about our journalism and ways to support and enjoy our work.
Sign up**Privacy Notice:**Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on [theguardian.com]( to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our [Privacy Policy]( We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy]( and [Terms of Service]( apply. after newsletter promotion
Suspensions enable an investigation to be carried to ascertain whether a volunteer’s conduct has breached their voluntary agreement with Samaritans, brought the charity into disrepute or put its reputation at risk.
Branch directors say there is nothing in volunteer agreements that prevents them from speaking to the media, and many talk regularly to local papers, radio and TV about suicide prevention issues and fundraising campaigns.
One branch director said: “What’s damaging to the reputation of Samaritans is what Samaritans is doing and the way they are doing it. It’s not the likes of me taking to the media.”
A Samaritans spokesperson said: “Complaints were raised about the recent conduct of a small number of volunteers which are now being investigated through our normal processes. It is not appropriate to comment further on any individual case.”
Our annual appeal to defend press freedom
0 of 60,000 acts of support
## At this unsettling time
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you close this tab, we want to ask if you could support our annual press freedom appeal at this crucial time for journalism in the US.
In his first presidency, Donald Trump called journalists the enemy; in his second term, it's clear he's treating us like one.
From Hungary to Russia, authoritarian regimes have made silencing independent media one of their defining moves. Sometimes outright censorship isn’t even required to achieve this goal. In the United States, we have seen the administration apply various forms of pressure on news outlets since Trump returned to office. One of our great disappointments is how quickly some of the most storied US media organizations have folded when faced with the mere specter of hostility from the administration – long before their hand was forced.
While private news organizations can choose how to respond to this government’s threats, insults and lawsuits, public media has been powerless to stop the defunding of federally supported television and radio. This has been devastating for local and rural communities, who stand to lose not only their primary source of local news and cultural programming, but health and public safety information, including emergency alerts.
While we cannot make up for this loss, the Guardian is proud to make our fact-based work available for free to all, especially when the internet is increasingly flooded with slanted reporting, misinformation and algorithmic drivel.
**Being free from billionaire and corporate ownership means the Guardian will never compromise our independence – but it also means we rely on support from readers who understand how essential it is to have news sources that are immune to intimidation from the powerful.**
We know our requests for support are not as welcome as our reporting, but without them, it’s simple: our reporting wouldn’t exist. Of course, we understand that some readers are not in a position to support us, and if that is you, we value your readership no less.
**But if you are able, please support us today. All gifts are gratefully received, but a recurring contribution is most impactful, helping sustain our work throughout the year ahead (and among the great benefits, we’ll show you far fewer fundraising requests like this). It takes just 37 seconds to give. Thank you for protecting the free press.**
Support $5/monthly
Recommended
Support $15/monthly
Unlock **All-access digital** benefits: * Far fewer asks for support * Ad-free reading on all your devices * Unlimited access to the premium Guardian app * Regular dispatches from the newsroom to see the impact of your support * Unlimited access to Feast, the Guardian recipe app
Support once from just $1
[Continue](
Remind me in June
Explore more on these topics
* [Charities]( * [Voluntary sector]( * [news](
Share
[Reuse this content]( "Reuse this content")
### Most viewed
* [ #### Polish ex-minister flees Hungary to the US after PM Magyar says country won’t protect people wanted elsewhere]( * [ #### Martin Short opens up about ‘nightmare’ death of his daughter Katherine]( * [ #### A deadly bacterium is creeping up the US east coast. How worried should we be?]( * [ #### ‘Being offended isn’t the worst thing. Being poor is’: how Robby Hoffman became a controversial comedy sensation]( * [ #### Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15m over use of her image on TV boxes](
## Related stories
## Related stories
* []( ### Infighting breaks out over departure of Oxfam chief executive Halima Begum 15 Dec 2025 * []( ### UK charities condemn ‘immoral’ plans to force asylum seekers to volunteer 14 Nov 2025 * []( ### Samaritans to push on with branch closures despite volunteers’ objections 1 Oct 2025 * []( ### Samaritans volunteers could quit if branches are closed, say local directors 26 Sept 2025 * []( ### ‘Soul-destroying’: Samaritans volunteers blindsided by proposed closures 10 Aug 2025 * []( ### Samaritans to close at least 100 branches across UK and Ireland 25 Jul 2025 * []( ### Macmillan accused of ‘betrayal’ over plan to axe cancer benefits advice service 5 May 2025 * []( ### Labour backs plans for £15m fund to distribute surplus food from farms 27 Dec 2024
## More from News
## More from News
* []( ### US-Israel war on Iran Trump calls Iran’s response to peace plan ‘totally unacceptable’ as ceasefire frays 8h ago * []( ### Hantavirus Americans on hantavirus cruise ship to be repatriated as one tests positive 3h ago * []( ### US military Body of missing US soldier recovered off coast of Morocco 10h ago * []( ### Poland Ex-minister flees Hungary to US after PM Magyar says country won’t protect people wanted elsewhere 4h ago * []( ### Greece Greece scrambles to explain how explosive-packed drone landed in its waters 2h ago * []( ### Denver US transportation safety agency mulling investigation into fatal Frontier incident 13h ago * []( ### Martin Short Martin Short opens up about ‘nightmare’ death of his daughter Katherine 6h ago * []( ### Dua Lipa Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15m over use of her image on TV boxes 4h ago * []( ### World Cup Fifa World Cup matches face heightened terror risk in US amid Iran conflict 18h ago
## Most viewed
## Most viewed
* [Most viewed Across the Guardian]( * [Most viewed in Society](
### Most viewed Across the Guardian
1. #### [Martin Short opens up about ‘nightmare’ death of his daughter Katherine]( 2. #### [Polish ex-minister flees Hungary to the US after PM Magyar says country won’t protect people wanted elsewhere]( 3. #### [A deadly bacterium is creeping up the US east coast. How worried should we be?]( 4. #### [‘Being offended isn’t the worst thing. Being poor is’: how Robby Hoffman became a controversial comedy sensation]( 5. #### [Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15m over use of her image on TV boxes]( 6. #### [Female nudity and art that stinks: key takeaways from Venice Biennale 2026]( 7. #### [Saturday Night Live: Matt Damon is a stellar host of another standout episode]( 8. #### [Greece scrambles to explain how explosive-packed drone landed in its waters]( 9. #### [Greenlandic woman wins case against Danish authorities who removed her two-hour-old child]( 10. #### [Trump calls Iran’s response to peace plan ‘totally unacceptable’ as ceasefire frays](
### Most viewed in Society
1. #### [‘Everyone was in tears’: the tenants given eviction notices just before ban in England]( 2. #### [Doctors warned Andrea could die without safe housing, then discharged her to sleep on the streets]( 3. #### [‘You lose yourself’: inside the mental health crisis hitting gen X women]( 4. #### [‘One of the greatest invisible tragedies’: is the loss of childhood imagination inevitable?]( 5. #### [Experts call for UK four-day week as study links long work hours to obesity]( 6. #### [‘They’ve invented a spurious pseudo-disease’: why are so many men being told they have low testosterone?]( 7. #### [My egg, my wife’s womb, our baby: how we found our way to lesbian motherhood]( 8. #### [The emerging cancer treatment that’s exciting scientists: ‘We’ve just scratched the surface on what’s possible’]( 9. #### [‘Came here with hope’ and ‘died unseen’: tearful crowd says goodbye to homeless man Bikram Lama]( 10. #### [GPs and hospitals in England to be required to share data to create single patient records](
* [UK]( * [UK politics]( * [Education]( * [Media]( * [Society]( * [Law]( * [Scotland]( * [Wales]( * [Northern Ireland](
* [News]( * [Opinion]( * [Sport]( * [Culture]( * [Lifestyle](
Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning
[Sign up for our email](
* [About us]( * [Help]( * [Complaints & corrections]( * [Contact us]( * [Tip us off]( * [SecureDrop]( * [Privacy policy]( * [Cookie policy]( * [Tax strategy]( * [Terms & conditions](
* [All topics]( * [All writers]( * [Newsletters]( * [Digital newspaper archive]( * [Bluesky]( * [Facebook]( * [Instagram]( * [LinkedIn]( * [Threads]( * [TikTok]( * [YouTube](
* [Advertise with us]( * [Guardian Labs]( * [Search jobs]( * [Work with us]( * [Accessibility settings]( * California resident – Do Not Sell or Share
Support the Guardian
Available for everyone, funded by readers
[Support us](
[Back to top](
© 2026 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.(dcr)