Peer Support in Action
Buddies Past and Present Give Their Stories and Poems
Walton High School, Stafford
Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent
Release
A hand reaching through the void
Grips my own in tender fingers and in compassion
Eyes searching through the bleak gloom of suppression,
Like beacons calling to the oceans that lie behind my glance.
You dive in, the cool waters refresh
Refresh all.
For once the floods are released.
All is cleansed once more.
By Holly Corfield-Carr Walton High School ,Stafford.
Dealing with Emotions
Before we began as peer supporters in our school we had 3 days training in Re-evaluation Counselling and learnt to co-counsel each other. This was the most useful training for me so far because it helped me understand more about people’s emotions. For example if you upset someone without intending to, you usually find their anger or tears is about something deeper. If you apologise to them saying you may have been wrong it helps them trust you. If they trust you they elaborate on their feelings. Also they have already started to discharge their feelings and usually continue. By talking about their feelings and letting them out they start to accept them. I’ve found that when you talk about a problem it helps you think about it.. Having someone to listen helps us to sort it out in our mind which is better than being given advice. I also liked the idea put forward in the training that we’re all perfect and good when we’re born but the world around us changes our behaviour to be less than perfect. This means behaviour is changeable so we can still be as good as when we were born.
By Rebecca Nottingham Walton High School, Stafford.
Being Buddies
To be a buddy we had to go on a 3 day training course in co-counselling. We learnt how to open up to people and how to get them to open up to us. Our school counsellor, Netta Cartwright was a great influence who taught us a lot.
When we started actually going to our year 7 forms we were very welcomed by them and they enjoyed the games we played with them. It is a really good experience which really gives us self satisfaction.
By Sophia Hussain, Amitpal Singh and the buddies at Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent
Being a Buddy
Being a buddy is good because we are helping younger students and we get to play games with them. Being a buddy has helped me because it’s made me more confident.
Tabbassam Qureshi Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent
Since becoming a Buddy
Since I have become a buddy I have learnt many new things like basic communication skills which I have used with younger students and also in everyday conversations. A buddy is not just someone who welcomes and cares for new students but is a friend and a source of confidentiality. Being a buddy has given me the confidence to begin new relationships and develop old ones. I have been given the responsibilty to support fellow students. Being a buddy has given me the satisfaction and confidence to be not just a buddy but a friend to everyone.
Razwana Younis, Longton High School. Stoke-on-Trent
A Blast from the Past: Letter from an ex- peer supporter
I was an initial peer counsellor at Walton High School and gave talks in London and Devizes. I think that the experience has helped and shaped me in my career and studies.
After my a-levels, I went to Keele, to study Criminology and Economics, my dissertation was on bullying in young offender institutions, which I loved doing!! After studying I worked in a young homeless shelter in Blackburn for a while. I then got a graduate job in business, during this I started my MSc in Business Management. After 2-3yrs in business, although I was successful, I found that it didn't fulfil me (I know this sounds corny - but bear with it). So I took a drop in pay to join the police as a civilian researcher, where I got a promotion to Criminal Intelligence Analyst - a fantastic job that I enjoy. I carried on my studying and completed my MSc this January. My dissertation was on "How effective were the grievance procedures in dealing with bullying within Cheshire Police!!""
So it has been a recurring theme in my study and work life and I thank you for the opportunities it gave me!!
Thanks
Ex peer supporter (aged 28!) Walton High School, Stafford.
Reaching
Reaching on a ray of
Warmth and friendship.
Reaching out to see if you care.
Do you know how much it means
When some one simply loves you?
You know, no matter what, they are there.
When you’re cold and
You are lonely
Tired of waiting on the phone
You feel you’re nothing
You have joined
The lost and the alone.
All it takes is someone
To listen, give some time.
All it takes is such a little while
Just a moment of warmth
A moment of friendship
Reaching out to make you smile.
Peer supporter Walton High School
Why I am a buddy!
Being a buddy is great
This is because you get to look after young children who are really grateful for your help When I started to be a buddy we all had to have a meeting, which I thought was really helpful. We had a three day course to learn how to listen and to play different games to show the children how to get to know each other and so we can get to know them. Also we learnt how to peer counsel. This means if people have a problem then it will help if they talk about it.
If I had the chance to change my mind and not be a buddy then I wouldn’t dream of it because you have a really good feeling inside you when you are helping others.
Thanks you for letting me be a buddy!
By Lyndsey Michelle Conlon
Buddy of Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent
Longton High School Buddies , Laura, Amitpal, Tabbassam and Razwana
This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards,but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.