Part 4: Ending the Peer Support Group
This was not covered in a video, but one of the things that’s important to remember is:
- Sometimes it's the right thing to do to end the group. There are loads of reasons why a group might end.
- We have done what we said we would do – we achieved our purpose
- Our purpose has changed and we need something else
- The peers have moved on to other things
- New peers are interested in something else
If there are members who want to keep the group going or run it differently or do something else, there should be talk about how to do that.
But if a group ends, there are a few things to remember.
Checklist for: Ending the group
- Celebrate – make your last meeting a joyous one
- Acknowledge what you mean to each other – take time at your last meeting to say great stuff about each other
- Note what has changed and what you learned
- Celebrate and acknowldge all the people who have contributed lots to the group – ideally everyone has made a contribution
- Let other people know the group has ended – you might want to direct them to another group if there is one
- If you have any leftover money, decide what to do with it as a group, or if it was given for a specific purpose maybe give it back
- If you are a formal group (like an association), make sure you do all the paperwork that’s needed for closing down the association
Well done !
you have now completed the whole workbook.
You are ready .. for sure.. find yourself a peer and get started!
Want to learn more?
Looking for more resources?
Try Peer Connect for all things Peer support.