What is Peer Support?
The Peer Support Programme was developed in recognition of the essential role students’ play in supporting and encouraging one another on a day-to-day basis throughout their time at university.
Students are likely to look to each other first for help in thinking through issues and for emotional support, but there are times when this can leave friends feeling out of their depth, unsure how best to help but anxious about seeking advice for fear of betraying trust.
Peer supporters are trained by the King’s Counselling Service.
The 18 hours of training are accredited and recognized by the KCLSU volunteering record /www.kclsu.org/getinvolved/volunteering/record/
Peer Supporters have received training to enable them to listen effectively, communicate sensitively, maintain confidentiality, respect boundaries and recognize when and how to encourage referral to professional support services when necessary.
Mainly they just offer a listening ear and a friendly face when you need it.
Who are Peer Supporters?
Peer supporters are undergraduate and graduate students who have formally applied for the role.
Peer supporters attend ongoing supervision through the King’s Counselling Service to consolidate their training, develop skills and ensure that they are not over-committed.
All peer supporters abide by a Code of Practice.
If you’ve got any problems or if there is something on your mind you would like to discuss, our team is always here for you. We’ve completed an extensive Peer Support training and the meetings with one of us are always confidential!
How can Peer Support Help?
Peer support offers an easily accessible and relatively informal opportunity to talk through issues which may be concerning you.
Often it can help simply to get things off your chest or to know that someone is genuinely willing to listen and take time to understand what’s on your mind.
Sometimes just talking things through is enough; sometimes it may lead you to seek more professional help.
It is important to emphasize that peer supporters are not counselors and, where appropriate, they may encourage you to seek more formal support through college welfare, your GP or the King’s Counselling Service.