About Peer Support
With so many forms of support out there sometimes it’s reassuring to know the person you’re working with has had a similar experience. We call this Peer Support and it involves working with someone who has direct personal experience. That may be of a mental health challenge or they may be neurodivergent.
Our services employ Peer Support Workers to better meet the challenges people face on their Employment Journey. Our Peer Support workers come from various walks of life. Some have even been clients of our service but they all have the same thing in common. Wanting to use their previous life experiences to help transform peoples lives and help them meeting their personal goals. It helps build relationships on understanding and acceptance.
If Peer Support is something you might benefit from please do take a moment to see what we offer. You can always contact us to ask for more information on our Contact Page located here
What we Offer?
Kingston Peer Support Service offers support from a peer support worker with lived experience of Neurodiversity to help clients define and meet their personal recovery goals.
Upskill has Peer Support Workers who use their lived experience of Mental Health challenges to provide assistance to progress toward employment, and/or education, training and volunteering opportunities.
IPS Workwise Newham service has Peer Support Workers that uses Peer Support with the IPS Model of support residents in those boroughs.
Enfield IPS Service has a Peer Support Worker using their own lived experiences to support Enfield residents on their Employment Journey.
You can also find leaflets detailing the work all our services do here
Finally we want to share with you RK’s story. Who was a referral to our Upskill Service. RK’s story is just one example of the work our Peer Support Workers do and how they can truly change someone’s life.
RK’s Story
When RK came to Upskill, he was struggling with his wellbeing; and was looking to start working and access social activities but needed support. His depression often met he had difficulties travelling however regular meetings with his Peer Support Worker (PSW) helped RK to decide how he wanted to approach these challenges.
Firstly, RK wanted to improve his IT skills, so his PSW got them a spot at Working Well Trust’s IT support group as well as provided him a laptop to help look for jobs, create a CV and improve his IT skills. RK by now knew where he wanted to work. He wanted a role being a train driver for TFL however without the qualifications or experiences the Peer Support Worker suggested RK explore the idea of apprenticeships or a trainee role in TFL to help achieve this goal.
Currently RK is preparing to start a functional skills level 2 in English and Math which will allow him to apply for a apprenticeship at TFL. In the meantime, the PSW supported RK to register at a Volunteer Centre where he’s applied for volunteering roles throughout Tower Hamlets.
Finally, RK is not staying at home as much and now spends his time attending groups or training which he says has contributed to an improvement in his wellbeing. He’s now confident to travel by himself taking little steps each time going out, he’s more confident to talk in and able to talk more about his interest and how he wants to achieve his life goals.
‘’I have seen little changes in me that I can attend a group session and not be anxious, able to introduce and talk to people. I will avoid going anywhere with a lot of people around, it made me feel uncomfortable and hard to speak up. I am more able to interact and feel more confident in these situations now’’.
*Name changed to protect client anonymity