Are you autistic, have a learning disability or severe mental illness? Do you want to take part in a physical activity group or class but feel too nervous to go on your own? We can work with services to encourage them to provide you with peer support.
What is peer support?
It is usually someone who already does the activity regularly and has agreed to be a peer supporter. It could also be a volunteer who works for the service that run the activity. As a Peer Supporter they will be told to look out for you, meet you as you arrive at the activity, greet you, make you feel welcome, show you around and stay with you during the activity so that you have someone to be with and talk to. They can introduce you to other people at the activity. If you keep attending, gradually you will probably need less support from them, and they will then support other people.
How do I get peer support?
Contact us and tell us what activity you want to do, where and when it is. We will contact the service that runs the activity and ask them whether they already have peer support. If they don’t already have this, we will work with them to try and help them set up peer support. We will keep you informed so that you know when peer support is available for you.
Further information
This is a pilot project to test if peer support helps increase attendance to physical activities by disabled people. If you have identified an activity that is run by a service who don’t have peer support, it could take a few weeks to help them to set this up in their settings. This means you will have to wait a few weeks until you can attend. We will keep you updated.
For more information or to refer yourself to the project please contact Sadia Asghar on 07563 103419 or Email sadia.asghar@disabilitysheffield.org.uk
