Peer Support Service - Oldham

If you would like to refer into our service, please click here.

Oldham based Peer Support Service

Are you struggling with your mental health? Have you been feeling overwhelmed? Have you come to end of therapeutic support and need help to take next steps on your recovery journey? You're not alone. Our Peer Support Service in Oldham is here to help. Our dedicated team of trained peer support workers are ready to provide you with the support you need to feel better and less alone.

 

Service Details: We offer one-to-one support for up to 8 weeks, tailored to your individual needs and preferences. Our support is through phone calls or out in the community. Support will be provided by a Peer Support Worker who has lived experience of overcoming mental health challenges.

 

Our Approach: Our peer support workers are here to listen, empathize, and support you in maintaining or improving your wellbeing. Through up to eight sessions in the community, our goal is to:

  • Help you identify your own strengths and abilities.
  • Use coaching approaches to help you identify your own coping strategies.
  • Identify various activities and opportunities in your community.
  • Help you move forward and achieve goals.
  • Show that change and recovery is possible.
  • Share own experiences and inspire hope.

 

Clients: We service is for adults (+18 years old) who are living in the Oldham Area. This service offers low level support (for those coming to the end of their therapeutic journey). This service is not suitable for those in active crisis.

 

Cost: Free.

 

Referral Process: You can either be referred by a professional or self-refer through an application form.

  • If you are a professional (e.g. GP, organisation, etc) referring a client, please contact us to send you the referral form.
  • If you are self-referring, please click here.

 

More information:

You can contact us through email (oldhampeersupport [at] togmind.org) or call us at 0161 330 9223.

Our poster promoting the Oldham Peer Support Project - depicted are two roughly middle age women having a good conversation on a park bench while drinking coffee, both emoting positively towards each other. The poster features information regarding service details and contains a QR code redirecting you to our referral form.

 

TOG Mind, part of: "Living Life Well" logo

What is Peer Support?

Peer support is one-to-one support. This support is all about you and is customised to help enhance your well-being, whether it's through in-person or remote. We can support you to access community groups and learn techniques to manage anxiety.

 

Peer support offers you the opportunity to talk to someone and gain practical skills and techniques to achieve your goals. Your peer support volunteer may discuss the 5 Ways of Wellbeing with you.

How long does peer support last?

Our peer support workers will be there for you for up to 8 weeks, with each session lasting around 50 minutes, but we can adjust this based on your needs.

We'll make sure you feel supported and know where to turn for more help if you still need it after the 8 sessions.

What happens when peer support finishes?

After completing one-to-one peer support, we hope you feel empowered to make your own choices and that your wellbeing has improved.

If you still need someone to talk to, we can provide details of other services. We'll make sure you feel supported throughout the process and understand that even if your well-being has improved, you may still need support in some areas.

What are the core values of peer support?

There are 8 core values of peer support-

  • Mutuality: A relationship based on shared experience, empathy, authenticity and respect.

  • Reciprocity: relationships about sharing and exploring different worldviews and creating solutions together.

  • Safety: Negotiating emotional safety, confidentiality, compassion, authenticity, honesty and non-judgemental attitudes.

  • Recovery Focused: The relationship focuses on helping people to grow within and beyond what has happened.

  • Strengths-based: It recognises people’s courage, strengths and skills and how they can use these to pursue their dreams.

  • None-directive: Within a peer relationship one person does not prescribe what is “good for” the other.

  • Inclusive: Peers help people engage with and contribute to their communities.

  • Progressive: A shared journey of learning and growing together.

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