Set up a peer support group
Please note, we are unfortunately unable to set up any new student-led peer support groups. If you wish to set up a peer support group, staff members at your University or Students' Union can still attend our Peer Support Train the Trainer Programme, so you should contact university and/or SU staff in the first instance. If you have any questions, please email ps@studentminds.org.uk.
It may be helpful to consider the following points:
It may be helpful to consider the following points:
1) Does a group already exist at your university?
Check this page to find out!
2. What type of peer support group are you interested in setting up?
It’s worth remembering that our peer programmes are not a suitable platform for providing support to individuals with acute or severe mental health problems.
3. Have you spoken to a member of staff at your university?
Staff support for a peer support project is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the group and to ensure the group is embedded in the local landscape. We recommend getting in touch with a member of staff from the counselling or wellbeing service and/or someone from your students’ union. Feel free to point them to our pages for staff for more information.
4. Is there any funding for the group
It costs £160 for every volunteer we train to run a group. On top of that it also costs £700 to support the group for a year, and £400 to ensure the volunteers get adequate supervision after each group session. Most of our peer support groups are funded by the university or students’ union, though some are supported through student fundraising.
It can sometimes be a long process to get a group up and running at a university but by contacting us today you’re one step closer!