September 2022 Forum - Tuesday, 20th September, 9:30-11:30

The Peer Partnership Coordinators Forum is for organisations who are involved in delivering or considering peer support and/or service-user involvement, in Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire.

It is an opportunity to meet with others running peer support services, hear updates relevant to peer support, share best practice and see what information and resources may be available to help us in our roles.

The forum meets four times a year and offers opportunities for you to network, highlight the important work you are doing, as well as a chance to learn from each other. We also hope by having this forum we will contribute to the overall promotion and spread of peer support and service-user involvement locally across the VCSE sector.

Agenda

9:30-9:50 - Introductions and Check in

A chance for attendees to get to know other participants and what is happening in their peer support programs.

9:50-10:25 - Spotlighted Service – Peer Support for Parents and Carers with Additional Needs - Lisa Straccia - Jigsaw Thornbury

Lisa Straccia, Volunteer and HR manager for JIGSAW Thornbury will discuss the setting up of their befriending scheme which supports parents and carers of children with additional needs. In particular, discussing the issues surrounding safeguarding volunteers and services users and how these considerations changed the setup of JIGSAW’s scheme entirely.

10:25-10:30 - Break

10:30-11:15 - Best Practice – Community Engagement – Clare Daley, VOSCUR

We recognise the importance of engaging with our communities but how do we do this in a meaningful way?

What questions should we ask ourselves and how can we check we are being inclusive and responsive?

Clare Daley from Voscur will facilitate a discussion around this topic and explore how we can make connections and draw on community networks to develop effective and collective social action.

11:15-11:30 - Discussion

What would help the peer support sector to thrive? Attendees will be split into groups to discuss what help peer support services might need to support them in providing services in Bristol, North Somerset & South Glos.

We hope to see you there!