Peer Support Lead Programme

We are now in the third year of our Peer support Leads programme. Over 50 sixth form students from schools across the partnership take part in a safeguarding and mental health training course at the start of their tenure, they then work to support younger students in their schools.  A new focus this year has been on ‘creative loitering,’ being present in key locations around the school where conversations can be struck up easily and naturally with other students.

To make the PSLs an obvious presence have created short videos and presentations to raise awareness of their availability in their schools.  It’s a key sign of their success that the PSLs have expanded their role into a student voice for mental health and wellbeing across the school. 

Aims

The aim of this programme is to provide additional wellbeing and pastoral support to students. Throughout the pandemic it has been clear that students can feel isolated or lonely. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to or help them through their problems. In order for this to be a success, the Peer support leads must take their role seriously and receive high quality training to support them. This is facilitated and led by both teachers and expert guest speakers. The younger students benefit from their presence as they are seen as a friendly face and someone to share their problems with. 

Background

We are now in the third year of this programme with new recruits joining each year. It was felt that they would provide a great support to the pastoral systems within each school at a time when young people are facing times of stress and worry. 

Resources

Training sessions for the PSLs are approximately every term after the initial training sessions. This requires time and input from teachers and guest sepakers. There is some financial input for speakers and host schools but this is not huge. As well as training sessions for all students, they meet within their own schools to update staff on any issues or challenges. This is usually a weekly meeting at lunchtime. 

Impact

We are using Impact Ed to measure the impact of the PSL programme this year. A baseline survey has been carried out measuring wellbeing and will be redone near the end of the year. We anticipate that wellbeing will be increased though the PSL's awareness of mental health support and the training they receive. 

Pupil Involvement

Over 50 students from 6 schools are involved in the programme this year. They are a mixed gender group of sixth form students. 

Frequency

This is an ongoing programme with training courses delivered throughout the year, school meetings, work with younger students, 1- 1 sessions and presentations and assemblies. We hope to continue this with new students each year.