Peer support
by and for neurodiverse people.
Peer support can be defined as giving and receiving help. It is founded on the principles of respect, shared responsibility and a mutual agreement of what is helpful.
Peer support is emotional support, frequently coupled with practical and informational support. Emotional support refers to the things that people do to make us feel cared for. It bolsters our sense of self-worth by talking over a problem, providing encouragement or giving positive feedback. Practical support is helping you with a task you find difficult such as making a phone call, filling in forms or writing letters. Whereas informational support refers to help through the provision of information.
S4Nd offers peer support online in the Community area. It also offers Peer support group sessions and one-to-one meetings with Angie on Sundays.
S4Nd definitely does provide information and generalist advocacy, it doesn’t give advice and S4Nd is not a counselling or therapy service.
Groups
S4Nd’s peer support groups are run by and for neurodiverse people. The groups offer members mutual support, guidance and the sharing of information.
All S4Nd peer support groups are open to anyone who identifies as neurodiverse. Groups are held monthly on Sundays using Zoom and take place from 2.30-4pm. They follow the same principles as the Moots
Thinking About Neurodiversity is for anyone considering they might be autistic, ADHD or otherwise neurodiverse. The group discusses practical support and information on topics ranging from approaching a GP seeking diagnosis to rights about diagnostic assessments.
Peer Support Circle is a safe space for neurodiverse people to talk about the challenges of daily life. Members share experiences including problems at work or difficulties accessing health and care services in a supportive and non-judgemental environment. They are an ideal way to find out about things like Personal Independence Payments, Blue Badges, direct payments, housing etc.
Understanding Neurodiversity is for people newly identifying as neurodiverse or who want to know more. The group is an opportunity to find out what being neurodiverse means and to develop self-knowledge and understanding.
Thinking About Neurodiversity meets on the first Sunday of the month, Peer Support Circle on the second and Understanding Neurodiversity on the third.
There’s more information about S4Nd moots and how to join them in the Community area. To access the S4Nd Community area just log in, If you’re not already a member join S4Nd, membership is free.
One-to-ones
Angie is Autistic and ADHD, she has helped people to use Patient Choice to get a diagnostic assessment of Autism and/or ADHD in these circumstances:
- first approach (GP)
- declined an assessment
- second opinion
- waiting times.
In addition, she has helped members with issues in employment, benefits, health and housing. She also welcomes the opportunity to offer emotional support, one member saying this:
“I am so grateful for all the support you’ve given to me. I hope that if there are any others out there in our community who feel broken and abused by the system that’s supposed to help them that they find you”.
Instructions
- Select which Sunday you want to book (choose required month with the arrows) – available Sundays are highlighted in blue.
- Select and confirm the timeslot you want.
- Provide your name, email and confirm how you want the meeting to be conducted (phone call, Zoom, WhatsApp etc). Give a brief overview of what you would like to talk about. Detail any adjustments you need. Share anything else that will help prepare for the meeting.
- Click Schedule Event.
PLEASE NOTE : Group and one to one peer support sessions are not currently available. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Book a one-to-one appointment
PLEASE NOTE : Group and one to one peer support sessions are not currently available. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Instructions
- Select which Sunday you want to book (choose required month with the arrows) – available Sundays are highlighted in blue.
- Select and confirm the timeslot you want.
- Provide your name, email and confirm how you want the meeting to be conducted (phone call, Zoom, WhatsApp etc). Give a brief overview of what you would like to talk about. Detail any adjustments you need. Share anything else that will help prepare for the meeting.
- Click Schedule Event.
PLEASE NOTE : Group and one to one peer support sessions are not currently available. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
