A safe and private place to talk about whatever is on your mind.
A trained listener who will not interrupt, advise or judge you.
Opportunities to find your own way forward.
Who are the Listeners?
We are ordinary people who have volunteered to help provide this service.
We have all undertaken training courses in listening.
We all hold current clearances to ensure confidentiality and safety.
Who do we Help?
Everyone. You can share anything that is on your mind. Nothing is too trivial or too serious.
A skilled listener can help you explore the dilemmas you may be facing and help you find a way to deal with them.
Is all this In Confidence?
In the vast majority of cases our service is absolutely confidential. However, if you tell us anything that is illegal or puts people at risk we would have to report it. In this unlikely event we would need to work with you to appropriately disclose this information to ensure the safety of all involved.
Our Story
Salisbury Listening Place was founded over 20 years ago by member of the Salisbury Methodist Church, but from the outset it was agreed that Salisbury Listening Place would be open to everyone of faith or no faith and would provide an inclusive and impartial service free of bias or prejudice.
The church had been seeking for a way to make holistic healing of body, mind and spirit available for people in Salisbury and the surrounding area. The Acorn Listening Training programme was adopted as Acorn stress the importance of listening as a way of helping people.
It took 3 years of preparations, building protocols, management structures and establishing a team of trained listeners. Salisbury Listening Place opened in September 2004. Three sessions a week were provided to cover early evening, midweek morning and weekend morning. A minimum team of 3 comprising 2 trained listeners and a supporting ‘associate’ were to be on duty at each session. ‘A ministry of availability’ had been formed.
Our work is ‘labour intensive’ and we currently have a team of over 20 Listeners. There is a Management Team and others help with fund raising and publicity. Our team of skilled, loyal and dedicated volunteers ensure that the work of Salisbury Listening Place fulfils the vision of the original pioneers.
A Listening Session
What happens?
There are usually three members of Salisbury Listening Place on duty for each session. You will be greeted in the foyer/Welcome area of the Methodist Church. You will be taken to a private room where you can talk in confidence to your Listener. If there are no Listeners available for you immediately, there is space for you to wait with a tea/coffee or we can book you in for a future date.
When you are settled in the private space, the Listener will invite you to tell your story. The Listener will give you their undivided attention. As you share whatever is on your mind, the Listener will check from time to time that they have heard you correctly. You will be supported to reflect on your situation which may enable you to think through whatever is troubling you and maybe find a way forward.
Our Listeners are volunteers who have been trained to a high standard and they will not interrupt, preach, judge or advise you. Only first names are used and we do not take notes or keep records about you.
Confidentiality is offered within the scope of the law (If you tell us anything that is illegal or puts people at risk we would have to report it). There may be some times when it may be helpful to consult another member of the team but this would not be done without your permission.
If you need the help of specialist agencies, we can signpost you to them.
Sessions usually last for a maximum of one hour. If you feel you would like to come again, then you can book another session.
Listening sessions are free of charge, but if you wish to make a donation, then it will be gratefully received.
Please note: In order to keep our volunteers safe, they will not listen to anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or who is aggressive. The session will be ended should the content become offensive or inappropriate.
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“This service is excellent and much needed”
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“I went away feeling much happier/better”
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“Being listened to allowed me to work through my thoughts and feelings in a safe environment”
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“It helps to have an emotionally uninvolved person to listen”
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“I was surprised at how tearful I felt, but after talking and the Listener being so attentive, I felt the burden lift enormously”
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“Being listened to clarified the issue for me and I felt strengthened, calmed and encouraged”
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“Although working within a church environment, TLP offers an impartial service without judgement or pushing religious beliefs on those who are not comfortable with them”
