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Peer Support
An effective school is concerned with the overall well being of all in
its community. The implementation of a Peer Support Initiative helps senior
pupils and staff to tackle issues affecting pupils in a positive and productive
manner.
A Peer Support system should be able to respond to the needs of younger
pupils in particular.
In order to equip senior pupils to deliver this support a training and
supervision programme should be set up in schools.
What is Peer Support?
Peer support is based on the fact that young people most often seek out
other young people when they are experiencing some concern or worry.
Peer helping relies strongly on communication to encourage self-exploration
and decision making.
Peer helpers/supporters are NOT professional counsellors or therapists,
they are young people who offer supervised support to other young people
to help them think through and reflect on concerns, which they may be
experiencing.
Peer helpers should be given training to provide a non-judgemental, active
approach to listening which encourages others to express and explore their
frustrations.
The basis of peer support programmes is the understanding that those
involved have similar characteristics to those being helped, for example
in age or life experience.
How can Peer Supporters help?
The roles of peer supporters are determined by the training, which they
are given and by the needs of the school. Peer helpers may be involved
in any of the following:
- Helping young people with learning
- Helping younger or new pupils make the transition to a new school
- Assisting with topics of concern to other pupils
- Assisting pupils in resolving disputes
- Helping others to sort out concerns, brainstorm ideas & offer practical
help
- Reaching out to lonely or troubled pupils
How to set up a Peer Support scheme:
- Conduct an anonymous school survey to find out the extent of the bullying
problem and where the bullying commonly occurs.
- Set up initial meetings with staff, parents and governors to discuss
implementation of the scheme and any resulting concerns.
- Devise a questionnaire for students interested in taking part in the
scheme to aid teachers in the selection process.
- Organize training in listening skills for students chosen to take
part in the scheme and for any other parent/staff member directly involved.
- Appoint members of staff to be responsible for monitoring and supporting
the student counsellors on a continuing basis.
- Inform the whole school about the scheme through publicity and curriculum-related
activities.
You can view an outline of Kidscape's
Peer Support\Counselling course.
N.B. For a Peer Counselling scheme to run successfully it should be part
of a whole-school anti-bullying
policy.
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