Golden Key Blog - the inspiring power of peer support
Alv Hirst, Project Lead for the Golden Key Peer Mentor Service, reflects on the inspiring process of getting the service up and running and the build up to its launch this Thursday (21.01.16)
“This is an exciting time for our new service and I’m looking forward to this year’s forthcoming developments, as well as working together with other organisations in Bristol.
Over the past few months my team has been growing. Led by DHI (Developing Health and Independence) the team has members seconded from Addiction Recovery Agency (ARA), Bristol Drugs Project (BDP), and Second Step as well as DHI itself, which already has great expertise in providing peer support through the ROADS service. It has been great to welcome the growing range of knowledge, skills and experience into the team. They’re all looking forward to meeting the diverse range of people who are attending the launch, including attendees from around the country who are also delivering peer support services under the Fulfilling Lives programme.
Already we have our first team of Peer Mentors who I’ve seen approach their initial training with enthusiasm and commitment. They have inspired each other with their stories of resilience and recovery, and we have seen the huge potential that exists in the inspirational power of the peer relationship. They are looking forward to applying their experience and insight into supporting Golden Key clients who have complex needs, and making a difference in Bristol. As one said, “It was a peer that inspired me in my recovery journey. Now it’s my turn to do the same!”
In a short space of time I have seen our team and Peer Mentors develop a good working relationship. I’ve seen them all grow as they learn together, plan together and begin to build the service. I have found this particularly inspiring, and a key reason that I feel committed to this work. As each week has gone by, the excitement of meeting new people who want to become Peer Mentors hasn’t diminished. It’s been great to see a team of sensitive and reflective people emerge, and to know that they will make a valuable difference.
I wanted the event to allow participants to connect and share information about their work, so the launch will also include a market-place of stalls and a facilitated workshop activity, allowing this to happen. We will explore issues around peer mentoring, record the ideas generated during the day, and feed them back to participants after the event. I hope they will inform our work, and prove useful to everyone’s thinking about creatively meeting the challenges and opportunities of peer mentoring.
Our Peer Apprentice, Charles Burton, said “I’m looking forward to meeting everybody at the launch, because it’s a great opportunity to get the message over about our aspirations and future plans.” I know that he speaks for the whole team!”
The launch takes place on January 21st, from 10am to 12pm at the Trinity Arts Centre, Bristol. For more information about the event, or the Golden Key Peer Mentoring Service, email Alv or call 0117 916 6551.