Peer Support in Action
SUMMARY OF A REPORT, PROVIDING FEEDBACK FROM A WORKSHOP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE NATIONAL PEER SUPPORT FORUM MEETING - JANUARY 17TH 2002
This Report provides feedback based upon information gathered from a workshop conducted with young people during the National Peer Support Forum meeting held at the Hilton Hotel, Islington, London on Thursday 17th January 2002.
Various genres of data have been collated, including charts and presentations designed by the young people during activities; audio recordings of group feedback sessions; and, keynotes from the groups of young people who presented their views during the plenary.
The workshop
aims were to:
elicit views on what resources/support the young people would
like from the Forum;
explore how young people could participate in the Forum; and,
report on students' views on principles of good practice of
peer support schemes -including mentoring, listening, education
and mediation.
The main themes that evolved throughout the day included: the increased use of Internet facilities; issues of how to raise awareness for peer support schemes; the need for national guidelines or a log book; a national network of peer supporters as a resource; funding issues; the need for more seminar days/workshops; more information to be made available to parents; the idea of national awards; and support for the production of a newsletter 'by young people for young people'.
On the basis of these activities, the recommendations of the Report include:
- the development of a national web site;
- the need for national recognition and a raised awareness of the peer support service;
- the value in developing national guidelines ('do's and don'ts'), as well as, an awards system;
- the provision of a national network as a resource;
- a national awards scheme;
- developing a Young People's Newsletter
- the organisation of further seminars and workshops.
The main concerns of the young people who attended the workshop related to publicity and funding. In their collective view, there is a clear need to raise both the profile and awareness of schemes and to initiate actions to address the lack of funding for their projects.
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