Our sister organisation Velos Youth is proud to release it’s report titled ‘The Power of Peer Support: A Guide to Promoting Peer-to-Peer Support Networks‘.

Velos Youth is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals that provide holistic support and guidance to young people, however the change fostered in young people’s lives is not possible without the aid of their wider support networks. Integral to these networks are the young people’s peers. In spaces such as those provided by Velos Youth, peer support networks seem to emerge organically. Instances of young people benefiting from these are frequent, and their impact often profound. The key principle underpinning this impact is that individuals who have gone through similar experiences can offer valuable insights, empathy, and practical assistance to others facing similar challenges. Through a sense of solidarity, peer-to-peer support networks contribute to building resilience, and enhancing overall well-being and outcomes for young displaced people.

The aim of this guide is to offer a better understanding of how these networks develop, and why. What are the conditions necessary for young people’s peer-to-peer support networks to develop and thrive? What are the motivations of those involved? And most importantly, what can organisations and community spaces such as Velos Youth do to promote and harness their potential. This document first lays out the theory and assumptions behind why peer-to-peer support networks develop, before presenting the findings of research conducted with seven young people who access Velos Youth’s services and are engaged in peer-to-peer support. A number of case studies are then presented, before this guide concludes with a list of concrete recommendations for others looking to promote and stimulate peer-to-peer support within their unique contexts.

This document is not only for those working with young people who are displaced, but can be transferred to any community setting in which a specific population is facing a set of common challenges. The document was produced as part of the Bridge to the Future project, funded by the European Philanthropic Initiative for Migration. More information about the project can be found here.