Peer support 2025 summary
In addition to running our usual events we established during our first year, we had another great year of free events open to all Greater Manchester peer workers, as well as training & qualifications, completely free of charge to support peer workers in future career options.
Resources
We worked with a diverse group of 8 Greater Manchester peer workers to coproduce resources you asked us for.
Peer Support Q&As
We added a series of Q&A sessions for peer workers:
You said: "We need support for facilitators dealing with trauma. Help us understand what you do if someone is triggered? How can I tell if I have said the wrong thing? What does trauma-informed really mean?"
Here’s what we did…
Trauma Q&A
We collaborated with Thrive Manchester to run a Q&A session on navigating peer support when supporting people affected by trauma.
You said: "What do you do if someone in the group appears intoxicated? What should I say if someone tells me they're planning to use drugs? What is the difference between a lapse and a relapse? What is the difference between physically and psychologically dependent?"
Here’s what we did…
Substance Use Q&A
We collaborated with Achieve to run a Q&A session on navigating peer support when supporting people affected by alcohol or drug use.
You said: "How do I work with complex emotional needs? Can you tell me more about psychosis - specifically building a trusting relationship with people diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. How do you work with people resistant to engage/those with low motivation/when things feel stuck? What can you tell us about any additional mental health conditions we might come across in peer support?"
Here’s what we did…
Rethink Mental Illness Q&A
We collaborated with Rethink Mental Illness to run a Q&A addressing what to do in a peer support context when facing these situations.
You said: "How do I ensure we are working in a way that is accessible for neurodivergent attendees? Do all neurodivergent people go through similar issues? With so many different needs, perhaps it would be useful to break down the different needs of neurodivergent people across the spectrum."
Here’s what we did…
Neurodivergence Q&A
We collaborated with Caritas Salford to run a Q&A session on navigating peer support when supporting neurodivergent peers.
You said: ""What are the best tips and tricks can we give to people that they can use at home when on their own and having suicidal thoughts. Bereavement and suicide, how to help somebody who has lost somebody and cannot find a way of living without them."
Here’s what we did…
Suicide Q&A
We collaborated with START Q&A session on how to support peers affected by suicide
We had some great feedback from peer workers who attended the Q&A sessions, which included:
Celebrating Greater Manchester Peer Workers
Finally, we invited Greater Manchester peer workers to come together in person, reflect on their personal and professional journeys as peer workers, connect and celebrate themselves!
Feedback from this event included…
“Anita was really friendly and very encouraging”
“Really enjoyed connecting with other support workers”
“Thank you for being so welcoming”
“Love the place where the event took place. Friendly and arty!”
What’s next?
Coming up next year is our new workshop on facilitation and active listening skills, along with in-person group supervision, more Q&A sessions on topics you’ve asked us for, and our new mental health podcast!
Let us know what else you’d like to see next year by filling out this survey.