What to Expect
What to Expect from our Groups and Walks
A Safe and Welcoming Environment
We understand that reaching out for support can be very difficult. Try not to be overly concerned. Our groups are highly informal; we don’t form a circle of chairs, and you will not be pressured to talk if you don’t feel comfortable.
Our Rules and Policies
Our trained Peer Support Facilitators all have lived experience of mental health and will loosely guide the group conversations and maintain a few clear ground rules:
- A safe space - Where individuals trust others and feel supported and able to support others.
- Confidential- what is said in the group stays in the group. This confidentiality is critical to Peer Support.
- Outside the group - individuals will not be identified as participants in the group.
- Participation - effective Peer Support relies on participation, but individuals must be comfortable with what they share and non-participation is okay.
- Respect - group participants may have values which differ. These different values, opinions and views will be respected.
- Listen - participants will give each other time to talk and allow people to finish.
- Stay Safe - although it is perfectly fine to step out of any group meeting if you find discussions difficult or the subject is triggering, we encourage people to allow emotion within the group. Learning to manage our reactions and emotions and to develop coping strategies.
Walks
Walks are facilitated by at least two volunteers, with at least one volunteer being a trained walk leader
Unless specifically advertised we only offer a single walking route and all walks are group walks
We do not provide 1:1 walks
Due to duty of care and safeguarding obligations we ask all walk attendees to register on arrival and inform us when they leave.
We endeavour to use routes suitable for a broad range of abilities, including wheelchair users, but can not guarantee conditions on the day caused by weather and or maintenance. Where a route is not suitable for some abilities, such as routes that involve stiles or muddy uneven ground, we will make this clear in the description.
All walks are subject to cancellation due to weather, access restrictions or volunteer availability. We will endeavour to provide notice of cancellation 24 hours before the walk, but some issues are beyond our control. Where late cancellation is necessary, we will endeavour to contact all clients.
A Note About Confidentiality
The Peer Support Facilitator may be required to break confidentiality if:
You or others, in the opinion of the Peer Support Facilitator, seem to be in danger or at serious risk of being harmed
We are required to do so by a Court Order
A participant infers involvement in or knowledge of serious crime.
A participant infers knowledge of or involvement in behaviours that may, in the Peer Support Facilitator’s opinion, lead to harm or neglect to children and vulnerable adults.
Need to Book in Advance
All our groups, walks, activities and events must be booked in advance.
To book please go to the Events page and click on the activity that you would like to book.
Our groups, walks, activities and events only take place if clients have booked. Do not attend if you have not booked, as the group, walk, activity or event may not be taking place.