Become a Peer Worker Volunteer
What is a Peer Worker?
A peer worker is a person with personal experience of mental health challenges who is trained and undertakes a volunteering or paid role in support for others either on a one-to-one basis or within a group setting.
Peer workers develop mutually empowering relationships; sharing experiences in a way that inspires hope and offering hope and support as an equal.
How to become an Open Mental Health Peer Worker Volunteer
WATCH CIO offer a Peer Foundation training course for anyone interested in using their own mental health lived experience and becoming a peer volunteer within Open Mental Health.
The Peer Foundation training covers:
- What is peer support and what is a peer worker
- Ways for wellbeing
- Communication and listening skills
- Boundaries and confidentiality
- Sharing your stories
- Resilience and supervision
How and when the training courses take place
Peer Worker Development sessions run throughout the year, delivered on Zoom.
Peer Worker Development: Taster Sessions
These free workshop will introduce you to WATCH, explain the role of a Peer Worker, and help you build resilience while setting healthy boundaries. You’ll also learn how to apply for volunteer roles, get practical advice on finding other opportunities, and discover further training available through the Peer Worker Development (PWD) programme.
See the full training schedule for 2025
- Friday 1 August 2025
- Monday 1 September 2025
- Friday 7 November 2025
- Tuesday 2 December 2025
- Friday 9 January 2026
- Friday 6 February 2026
- Each session runs from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
If you would like further information about the Peer Foundation training course call 01460 712119 or email: courses@watchproject.org.uk
