How to set up and facilitate a
peer support group

This training is designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills needed to create safe, supportive, and effective peer support group environments.

About this training:

Peer support can be a profound and transformative element of support for people who are on a journey of coping or recovering from traumatic or challenging life experiences.  Peer support groups provide safe and supportive environments for group members to come together and share experiences that will improve their coping skills and build their resilience with others who are on a similar journey. 

These settings can often feel more relatable and less intimidating than traditional professional care services which can be attractive to people looking for support of this nature . 

Offering a service like peer support can be hugely beneficial to all communities and will reduce social isolation, enhance social interaction and connect survivors, patients, clients and caregivers to others with similar lived experiences and health issues. 

But how can you set up and facilitate a peer support group safely and ensure you are fully prepared and ready to go live with the service?  Well, that is what this workshop is here to do.  The training will cover all the key principles necessary to manage a peer support group service ethically and professionally. 

Who will benefit from this training:

Staff or volunteers planning to set up a Peer Support Group service in all fields of practice.  For example, setting up peer support networks for survivors of abuse, parent groups, youth groups, disability and mental health groups, addiction recovery groups, health and well-being support groups and so on.

What you will learn:

• The role of a peer support group leader.
• The purpose of a peer support group.
• The importance of boundaries.
• Understanding vulnerability.
• Professional judgement and safeguarding.
• Managing conflict.
• The do’s and don’ts.
• Ethical practice and legal conditions.

For more information, please email us at training@thesurvivorstrust.org