Former Coleraine volunteer helps set up Samaritans branches in Spain

Liz Steffen, who is originally from England, moved to the Coleraine area in 2000.

When she took early retirement and moved to Alicante, Liz dreamed of days sitting in the sun reading books and sipping sangria, but she now finds herself at the helm of two busy Samaritan branches in the Spanish resort.

"I was a Samaritan for 12 years in London," Liz told The Coleraine Times this week.

"I decided to leave the hustle and bustle of the city, and I moved back to the Coleraine area.

"My mother was originally from Ballyrashane. I bought a house in Aghadowey, and became involved with the Coleraine branch of the Samaritans where I still have many close friends.

"My reasons for retiring to Spain? Well I'd have to say the weather! It's 18 degrees here at the moment, the flowers are blooming and the trees are full of oranges. It's a far cry from Aghadowey!"

Whilst searching for a home in the Costa Blanca, Liz spotted a notice about the creation of a branch of the Samaritans in Alicante.

"My plans of sun, sea and sangria were ruined when I spotted this notice.

"Six of us got together and we set up the first ever branch in Spain. It was difficult, we had a lot of Spanish bureaucracy to get through and a lot of money to raise.

"But, help from charities like the Lions Club, the Round Table and the Royal British Legion got us on our feet, and now we have 46 trained volunteers."

The two Spanish branches are for English speaking people in need.

"People here are very isolated", explained Liz,

"We're in a severe recession, British people here are finding it difficult to sell their homes in a bid to return to Britain and we have a lot of elderly people, who are on their own, so there is a great need here for the service that we provide."

Liz revealed that a third of inmates in Alicante prison are British: "I met with the Spanish Consulate this week, and she told me about that figure. I was amazed, and that's why we are planning to visit the prison as part of our role as volunteers .

"The prisoners rarely get visitors, they don't speak Spanish, so we hope to be able to go in and visit them on a regular basis."

Liz will be returning to Portrush next month for the Samaritans regional conference, which is being hosted by her colleagues from the Causeway Branch.

Story: Nichola Forgrave