A safe and welcoming environment

We understand that reaching out for support can be very difficult. Try not to be over concerned, our groups are highly informal, we don't form a circle of chairs and you will not be pressured to talk if you don't feel comfortable.

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Our trained Peer Support Facilitators all have lived experience of mental health and will loosely guide the group conversations and maintain a few clear ground rules:

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• a safe space - where individuals trust others and feel supported and able to to support others.

• confidential - what is said in the group stays in the group. This confidentiality is critical to Peer Support.

• outside the group - individuals will not be identified as a participant of the group.

• participation - effective Peer Support relies on participation but, individuals must be comfortable with what they share and non participation is okay.

• respect - group participants may have values which differ. These different values, opinions and views will be respected.

• listen - participants will give each other time to talk and allow people to finish. 

• stay safe - although it is perfectly fine to step out of any group meeting if you find discussions difficult or the subject is triggering, we encourage people to allow emotion within the group. Learning to manage our reactions, emotions and developing coping strategies is key to the Peer Support process, staying in the room does this!

 

Walks​

• walks are facilitated by at least two volunteers with at least one volunteer being a trained walk leader

• unless specifically advertised we only offer a single walking route and all walks are group walks

• we do not provide 1:1 walks

• due to duty of care and safeguarding obligations we ask all walk attendees to register on arrival and inform us when they leave.

• We endeavour to use routes suitable for a broad range of abilities including wheel chairs but can not guarantee conditions on the day caused by weather and or maintenance. Where a route is not suitable for some abilities such as routes that involve stiles or muddy uneven ground, we will make this clear in the description. 

• all walks are subject to cancellation due to weather, access restrictions or volunteer availability. We will endeavour to provide notice of cancellation 24 hours before the walk but some issues are beyond our control. Where late cancellation is necessary, we will endeavour to contact all clients.

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A note about confidentiality 

The Peer Support Facilitator may be required to break confidentiality if:

• you or others, in the opinion of the Peer Support Facilitator, seem to be in danger or at serious risk of being harmed

• we are required to do so by a Court Order

• a participant infers involvement in or knowledge of serious crime.

• a participant infers knowledge of or involvement in behaviours that may, in the Peer Support Facilitator's opinion, lead to harm or neglect to children and vulnerable adults.

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Need to book in advance​

• all our groups, walks, activities and events must be booked in advance.

• to book please follow the 'book now' link on the 'groups and hubs' page above.

• our groups, walks, activities and events only take place if clients have booked - Do not attend if you have not booked as the group, walk, activity or event may not be taking place.

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