Getting support from groups and peers

Making positive changes in your life is always easier when you have other people to support you.

Our services all run many groups where you can meet others who can to support and guide you.

Peer support from volunteers and groups

Peer support is about people with similar experiences coming together to help and inspire each other.

It could mean getting together regularly with a group of people who’ve all faced the same challenges. Or, it could mean one-to-one support from a volunteer who helps you to meet your own goals.

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I need help now

If you want to make positive changes in your life, support and guidance from other people can make a big difference to your journey.

There’s plenty of evidence that peer support helps people to feel more confident and positive about changing the direction of their life. It helps people to feel less lonely and isolated, and can give them the inspiration they're looking for. For people recovering from an addiction, it can play a big part in their recovery.

How we use peer support

At our services, you can get peer support from groups and from volunteers with lived experience.

Our volunteers use their own experiences to help others. Many of them have been in recovery themselves, or have used one of our services in the past. Others might have helped a loved one in a similar situation. Volunteering is a way for many people to achieve their own goals, and to give something back by helping others.

Lots of people don’t know what to expect when they first decide to get help. Having someone you can speak to who understands what you might be thinking or feeling can help you to know you’ve made the right choice.

Peer mentors apply through a recruitment process, and are given accredited training to make sure they’re prepared for their new role.

If you attend one of our services and would like to work with a lived experience volunteer, please speak to a member of staff or a volunteer. They can help you explore your options.

Find a Change Grow Live service

What other peer support is available?

There are also lots of other options for getting group support. Some of them involve therapy that focuses on thoughts and behaviour, such as SMART Recovery. Others, like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, focus on support from other people with similar experiences.

You can find some of the peer support available below. Please note that while we share details of external organisations on our website, we’re not responsible for their services or activities.