Peer Support Training
Many children say they would rather speak to a trusted friend or peer first before they talk to an adult, and that they are more likely to listen to another young person who ‘gets it’.
Children who have been bullied for example, often find it helpful to talk to a peer first.
Our peer support training provides the skills and techniques for children to safely support their peers.
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Everybody benefits from our peer support scheme:
Schools benefit from an additional layer of support from trained peer supporters who promote a positive culture of mutual respect and harmony. Many schools report that their peer support scheme has reduced instances of bullying and conflict.
The peer supporters benefit by learning valuable skills including active listening, empathy and communication skills. This can help them to build self-confidence, a sense of responsibility and be a positive role model to other children.
The peers benefit from increased access to sources of help and advice outside of their friendship groups, often from older children who are the trained peer supporters, who they might not otherwise have contact with. Older children are seen as having recently ‘walked their walk’ and more likely to understand their concerns.
The content of the peer support training is:
The role of a peer supporter
What they do. What they don’t do. And how they do it safely.
Relationships and trust
‘Why should I trust you?’ and ‘why I might not want to’
Listening, communication skills & empathy
Deliberate and active listening, open questioning, paraphrasing and body language while standing in someone else’s shoes.
Taking responsibility
Supporting peers to take responsibility for their thinking and their actions, recognise how their responses to events determines the outcomes, and take positive action in their lives. .
