The PeerTalk story
PeerTalk began as a project in 2014 in response to a recognised need of community support for people living with depression, anxiety and related conditions. This initial project was funded through the generosity of
many individuals and a significant grant from The Methodist Church. The three aims of the project were:
- To establish a national network of volunteer facilitated peer support groups for people living with depression. The groups modelled on groups run by the Irish charity Aware.
- To challenge stigmatising attitudes surrounding mental health
- To establish the project as a sustainable charity
PeerTalk became a registered charity in October 2016 and the first support groups were established in Bradford and Preston in March 2017.
The PeerTalk story could not be told without reference to Stephen and Philippa Normanton, Rosa Trelfa, Liz Whitfield and Roy Hillman who, supported by many others, have shaped PeerTalk into the organisationally strong and clinically credible charity it is today.
To date PeerTalk has trained 260 volunteers and now hosts 16 support groups in:
North-East: Gateshead, North Shields, Sunderland and Whitley Bay.
North-West: Knowsley, Preston (daytime and evening) and Warrington.
South: Bordon, Guildford and Farnham.
Yorkshire: Batley, Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds and Skipton.
The PeerTalk vision is to host 100 groups within ten years.
Along with further support from the Methodist Church we have been very grateful for substantial grants from The Tudor Trust and The Allen Lane Foundation. Other charitable trusts, listed elsewhere on the website, have also contributed to our work. The generosity of individual supporters of PeerTalk is overwhelming.
Evaluation of our work has been undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University and you can see a summary of it here. The testimony of those attending the PeerTalk groups already shows evidence of how valuable the groups are in providing much needed support prior to, and following, access to clinical therapies. We are pleased to enjoy the informal recognition of the benefit of our groups from the NHS mental health teams (IAPT) in the areas where we are located.
PeerTalk is very grateful to all the volunteers and individuals who continue to support the charity as well as to Aware who have been most gracious with their assistance and encouragement.
