Supporting Peer Support Roles in the Voluntary and Community Sector

Peer Support Workers (PSWs) are increasingly becoming an important part of services across the voluntary and community sector. By drawing on their own lived experience, peer workers can build trust, foster connection, and support people in ways that complement traditional professional roles.

Many organisations working across mental health, homelessness, substance misuse and other areas are developing peer support roles. However, implementing peer roles successfully requires careful thought. Organisations often need to consider questions such as:

• How should peer roles be designed and introduced within services?
• How can peer workers be supported to draw on their lived experience safely and meaningfully?
• How can teams understand and value the unique contribution that peer roles bring?
• What organisational structures are needed to support peer workers’ wellbeing and development?

The PEERS in Practice Self-Assessment Toolkit has been developed to help voluntary and community organisations explore these questions.

What is the PEERS in Practice toolkit?

PEERS in Practice is a practical self-assessment tool designed to help organisations reflect on how peer support roles are implemented within their services.

The toolkit is based on doctoral research conducted by our Director of Research, Sophie Wilson, exploring how peer support roles develop within voluntary sector organisations working across mental health, homelessness and substance misuse services. The research found that peer roles work best when organisations consider how they are supported across three interconnected areas:

Individual level
How peer workers draw on their lived experience and how they are supported in their roles.

Service level
How peer roles are integrated within teams and service delivery models.

Organisational level
How organisational culture, leadership and structures shape the implementation of peer support.

The toolkit helps organisations reflect on these areas in a structured way.

Who is this toolkit for?

The toolkit is designed for:

• Voluntary sector organisations developing or delivering peer support roles
• Service managers responsible for implementing peer roles
• Organisations exploring how lived experience can strengthen their services
• Teams who want to reflect on and improve how peer roles operate in practice

It can be used by organisations at different stages – whether you are planning peer roles, introducing them, or reviewing existing practice.

How can the toolkit be used?

The toolkit is designed as a self-reflection and learning resource. Organisations can use it to:

• Review how peer roles are currently working within their service
• Identify strengths and areas for development
• Support team discussions about the role of lived experience
• Inform organisational planning and service development

Many organisations find it helpful to work through the self-assessment collaboratively, bringing together managers, peer workers and other team members to reflect on their experiences.

Access the toolkit

You can download the PEERS in Practice Self-Assessment Toolkit below.

Download the toolkit

Disclaimer: Sophie Wilson was a recipient of an Individual Career Development Award [Award Number MH089] from the NIHR Three Research Schools’ Mental Health Programme. The views expressed in this toolkit are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the NHS, or the UK Department of Health & Social Care.

If you would like to discuss the toolkit or learn more about how it was developed, please contact the Harpal Bath, Head of Multiple Disadvantage ([email protected])