Part 3: Keeping the Group going
Now you are under way, you may wonder how to keep the group going.
There are 7 sections in this final video. These are:
3.1 Keeping the Group Going
3.2 Keeping it Interesting
3.3 Feedback and Evaluations
3.4 Different People and Situations
3.5 Hearing Everyone’s Voices
3.6 Finding Funding
3.7 Growing the Peer Movement
Enjoy the video – Part 3: Keeping the group going
There are 7 sections in this final video. These are:
3.1 Keeping the Group Going
3.2 Keeping it Interesting
3.3 Feedback and Evaluations
3.4 Different People and Situations
3.5 Hearing Everyone’s Voices
3.6 Finding Funding
3.7 Growing the Peer Movement
Enjoy the video – Part 3: Keeping the group going
Image Description: A woman )
(For Transcript click here)
It will take about 10 minutes to watch the first video.
Now let's go back and watch bit by bit to really understand the different parts to be done when thinking about setting up a peer support group.
3.1: Keeping the group going
(For Transcript click here)
It will take about 10 minutes to watch the first video.
Now let's go back and watch bit by bit to really understand the different parts to be done when thinking about setting up a peer support group.
3.1: Keeping the group going
(Image Description: A woman looking at camera and a man looking at the woman)
(For Transcript click here)
Peer support is all about connecting with people. Keeping a group going is about strengthening the connections between the people who are members of the group.
Ace says: “When somebody doesn’t show up, they are missed. You need to create an environment where everyone is important, everyone is valued. And how do you practise that if somebody doesn’t show up? You follow up, you check in, and it could be just a phone call ‘Hey we missed you, how are things going for you, what’s been happening?”
Julie says: “I often find myself asking fellow peer members if they’re going to be at the next peer meeting, and if they’re not, I like to catch up with them in another time.”
Building connections between the group members is really important. These phone calls and follow-ups don't have to be done by you. They can be done by any peer. You might have a buddy system to make sure nobody falls through the cracks. Everyone can be a buddy to someone else and then together you make sure you are creating a community of peers. A community that cares for each other.
The other thing to do in between the meetings to keep the group going is to do a bit of planning by:
“making sure the venue is still available, make sure people know the time, the location and then, if we need to invite guests we invite them, give ample time..”
Again, these jobs can be shared among the different peers.
3.2: Keeping it interesting
(For Transcript click here)
Peer support is all about connecting with people. Keeping a group going is about strengthening the connections between the people who are members of the group.
Ace says: “When somebody doesn’t show up, they are missed. You need to create an environment where everyone is important, everyone is valued. And how do you practise that if somebody doesn’t show up? You follow up, you check in, and it could be just a phone call ‘Hey we missed you, how are things going for you, what’s been happening?”
Julie says: “I often find myself asking fellow peer members if they’re going to be at the next peer meeting, and if they’re not, I like to catch up with them in another time.”
Building connections between the group members is really important. These phone calls and follow-ups don't have to be done by you. They can be done by any peer. You might have a buddy system to make sure nobody falls through the cracks. Everyone can be a buddy to someone else and then together you make sure you are creating a community of peers. A community that cares for each other.
The other thing to do in between the meetings to keep the group going is to do a bit of planning by:
“making sure the venue is still available, make sure people know the time, the location and then, if we need to invite guests we invite them, give ample time..”
Again, these jobs can be shared among the different peers.
3.2: Keeping it interesting
(Image Description: A group of people sitting around a couple of tables)
(For Transcript click here)
Peer groups are no different than any other groups or activities. They are sometimes more popular and sometimes less. That’s absolutely okay and normal.
Here are some tips from George, Julie and Ace on what you can do to keep things interesting:
3.3: Feedback and Evaluations
(For Transcript click here)
Peer groups are no different than any other groups or activities. They are sometimes more popular and sometimes less. That’s absolutely okay and normal.
Here are some tips from George, Julie and Ace on what you can do to keep things interesting:
- “Whenever the numbers start to go down, I tend to get on the telephone and just have a chat.”
- “Sometimes people might be uncomfortable with the person who’s running the peer group or leading the group. So then it might be up to you to have a conversation with that peer who’s running the group about how they can better work with everyone”
- “Sometimes people just want to have a chat instead of being there for a topic”
- “People’s schedules might change, so then you may have to reconsider the date and time that you meet.”
3.3: Feedback and Evaluations
(Image Description: a man and a woman looking directly at the camera, another woman with her head turned away from the camera)
(For Transcript click here)
Getting feedback, or even doing formal evaluation, is important in knowing how the group is going, knowing what works and what needs changing.
You could sit down and take some time at the end of a meeting, asking some questions:
3.4: Diffferent people and situations
(For Transcript click here)
Getting feedback, or even doing formal evaluation, is important in knowing how the group is going, knowing what works and what needs changing.
You could sit down and take some time at the end of a meeting, asking some questions:
- What works well for you with this group?
- What should we do differently?
- What can we do to improve?
- What should we talk about next?
- Does this meeting time and place work?
3.4: Diffferent people and situations
(Image Description: Group of people looking ahead)
(For Transcript click here)
It’s important to remember everyone is different and reacts to things differently.
Some people come to a group and they might not say anything at first.
Julie says: “Sometimes, they might want to have that social connection but are more comfortable speaking one on one. So it’s up to you as a peer to approach them afterwards and have that conversation with them.”
George adds: “Sometimes people are still very shy to bring their stuff out to a group. But gradually you work on it and you chip away at it.”
The other thing you might worry about is that someone in the group might start to cry and be upset because of the topic or what is being said. Of course, that can happen.
Ace shares from her experience:
“If someone cries, ah, there has been some situation when a topic has hit a heartstring. You know what we do is validate what they feel, and you create a space where they are able to feel that sadness or that frustration. Then you work with peers to make sure that person is okay and you have a peer who can actually check in – maybe after the meeting – just to make sure that that person is okay.”
3.5 Hearing everyone's voices
(For Transcript click here)
It’s important to remember everyone is different and reacts to things differently.
Some people come to a group and they might not say anything at first.
Julie says: “Sometimes, they might want to have that social connection but are more comfortable speaking one on one. So it’s up to you as a peer to approach them afterwards and have that conversation with them.”
George adds: “Sometimes people are still very shy to bring their stuff out to a group. But gradually you work on it and you chip away at it.”
The other thing you might worry about is that someone in the group might start to cry and be upset because of the topic or what is being said. Of course, that can happen.
Ace shares from her experience:
“If someone cries, ah, there has been some situation when a topic has hit a heartstring. You know what we do is validate what they feel, and you create a space where they are able to feel that sadness or that frustration. Then you work with peers to make sure that person is okay and you have a peer who can actually check in – maybe after the meeting – just to make sure that that person is okay.”
3.5 Hearing everyone's voices
(Image Description: Woman speaking)
(For Transcript click here)
Peer support is all about hearing the voices of peers. Everyone is important. Everyone matters equally. Sometimes we all have to be reminded of that. Peer leadership is the leadership of equals and no one voice is more important than another.
Of course, that sometimes causes problems. In the previous section we talked about people who do not talk. In this section Julie, Ace and George share their tips about people who love to talk too much, people who hog or dominate the space:
“It might be a good idea to let everyone know that they have 10 minutes at the start of the day to go around.”
3.6 Finding Funding
(For Transcript click here)
Peer support is all about hearing the voices of peers. Everyone is important. Everyone matters equally. Sometimes we all have to be reminded of that. Peer leadership is the leadership of equals and no one voice is more important than another.
Of course, that sometimes causes problems. In the previous section we talked about people who do not talk. In this section Julie, Ace and George share their tips about people who love to talk too much, people who hog or dominate the space:
- “What I do is respectfully say ‘we need to be mindful of the timing, that everyone has had a chance to share their experience or share what they know.”
- “I like to tell them, you know, there’s a lot to share, so it might be good for us to talk about it through lunch, afterwards.”
- “It could also be a matter of putting it back to the group and saying, okay, so and so is really frustrated with this issue but this is what we have got planned for today, what do we want to do? “
“It might be a good idea to let everyone know that they have 10 minutes at the start of the day to go around.”
3.6 Finding Funding
(Image Description: Group of people sitting arounda table doing some paperwork)
(For Transcript click here)
In the first video George said: “You don't need heaps of resources to run a peer support group.”
And that’s true. It’s also true that sometimes having a bit of money to run a group can make things easier and can help make things more accessible for people who might have some additional needs (such as needing additional support, or an interpreter, or someone to scribe, or a helper to get to the meetings).
Ace has a few ideas on where to turn to for some extra funding for your group:
3.7 Growing the Peer Movement
(For Transcript click here)
In the first video George said: “You don't need heaps of resources to run a peer support group.”
And that’s true. It’s also true that sometimes having a bit of money to run a group can make things easier and can help make things more accessible for people who might have some additional needs (such as needing additional support, or an interpreter, or someone to scribe, or a helper to get to the meetings).
Ace has a few ideas on where to turn to for some extra funding for your group:
- Talk to your local council and your local member/s – they might know of some funding you can access or they themselves might be able to help
- Talk to a community organisation such as a neighbourhood centre or a disability service – they might know of some funding or can provide a venue
- Maybe someone in the group is connected to a company that wants to make a donation
- You might want talk to those people who have an NDIS package on how they can use the funding to attend the meetings
3.7 Growing the Peer Movement
(Image Description: Groups of poeple sitting around several tables)
(For Transcript click here)
George, Julie and Ace feel that they are part of a peer movement. People with disability and our families, friends and allies coming together everywhere to support each other. We are part of a movement that changes the world into a place where people with disability are welcome and actively taking part.
Ace has got some great tips for actions to keep everyone in the movement, to share and learn from each other and grow together:
“Make sure that whenyou make connections that you actually record them and keep them. Maybe create a list and keep adding to the list and that’s how you build the movement.
You make sure that people are always in the loop of what’s happening in your peer support group. Always share your information, not just in the meeting ‘cause sometimes people aren’t able to attend a specific meeting.
Promoting far and wide, which means developing the flyer and actually sharing it with peers for them to actually hand out and distribute popping it up on local notice boards, you know sharing it with the local library, always having it in your bag just in case the opportunity arises. You never know, you could have a conversation with someone.”
Checklist for: Keeping the group going
Well done !
you have now completed Part 3.
click here to go to Part 4.
(For Transcript click here)
George, Julie and Ace feel that they are part of a peer movement. People with disability and our families, friends and allies coming together everywhere to support each other. We are part of a movement that changes the world into a place where people with disability are welcome and actively taking part.
Ace has got some great tips for actions to keep everyone in the movement, to share and learn from each other and grow together:
“Make sure that whenyou make connections that you actually record them and keep them. Maybe create a list and keep adding to the list and that’s how you build the movement.
You make sure that people are always in the loop of what’s happening in your peer support group. Always share your information, not just in the meeting ‘cause sometimes people aren’t able to attend a specific meeting.
Promoting far and wide, which means developing the flyer and actually sharing it with peers for them to actually hand out and distribute popping it up on local notice boards, you know sharing it with the local library, always having it in your bag just in case the opportunity arises. You never know, you could have a conversation with someone.”
Checklist for: Keeping the group going
- Build connections – everyone matters – and follow up
- Introduce a buddy system
- Spend some time in between meetings organising venue, speakers, follow ups, etc.
- Ask questions – What works? What can we do better?
- Find a way to get to know the shy people and encourage them to take part
- Be okay when someone gets upset – support them and maybe follow up
- Find ways to share the time and space equally
- If you need money, talk to people in the group or in your community
- Remember you might be able to use your NDIS Plan to support you to come to the peer support group
- Keep spreading the word about peer support!
Well done !
you have now completed Part 3.
click here to go to Part 4.