S even years ago, Samaritans volunteers Mark and Carol saved a stranger’s life. On the other end of the phone was a “very distressed” man. He had climbed scaffolding to the top of a building and was threatening to jump.

As Mark talked to him, Carol called his local Samaritans to alert volunteers. Eventually the man came down off the scaffolding and they “walked” him street by street to safety.

Still on the phone, the man arrived at his local Samaritans branch. When he knocked on the door, a cup of tea was waiting for him. “That was an amazing feeling,” recalls Mark.

For years, Mark and Carol have taken phone calls like this at their branch on a quiet residential street in Worthing, on England’s south coast. Worthing Samaritans, a local fixture for 57 years, has 100 listening volunteers, with costs funded by the local Samaritans shop. It has saved countless lives.

Three weeks ago, they were abruptly told in an online meeting with national managers that both branch and shop would shut in six weeks.…