The benefits of peer support: transforming day services in hard times
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a voluntary sector organisation's work in transforming day services, based on peer support, in the face of major cuts in Local Authority funding and the requirement to provide “low-cost, high-impact services”.
Design/methodology/approach
A description of the challenges facing the organisation and the ways in which services were configured based on peer support.
Findings
The number of people for whom support was provided increased from 60 to 180 using the rich pool of talent present among peers/volunteers. Friendships developed to reduce isolation and across the provision a sense of hope and optimism was created.
Originality/value
Many services are facing substantial cuts. This paper offers a positive approach to addressing these based on peer support and use of community resources that may be of value to others facing similar challenges.
Keywords
Citation
Mather, E. (2014), "The benefits of peer support: transforming day services in hard times", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 151-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-07-2014-0019
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited