An in depth case study of aAn in depth case study of aPeer Support ProgrammePeer Support Programme

from a Director’s point of from a Director’s point of viewview

Ailsa RitchieAilsa RitchieDirector of Student SupportDirector of Student Support

University of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews

University of St University of St AndrewsAndrews

Ancient - The University of St Ancient - The University of St Andrews dates back to 1413Andrews dates back to 1413

7000 students7000 students The town of St Andrews is small - The town of St Andrews is small -

16000 in total and located on the 16000 in total and located on the edge of the North seaedge of the North sea

An International community with An International community with students from over 100 countries students from over 100 countries world wide - 30% of our student world wide - 30% of our student populationpopulation

Ranked 1Ranked 1stst in Scotland and 4 in Scotland and 4thth in in UK in national leagueUK in national league

Only 5% students commute and Only 5% students commute and 95% are far from home and any 95% are far from home and any support systems they may havesupport systems they may have

High level of volunteering High level of volunteering generally - very committed generally - very committed studentsstudents

University of St University of St AndrewsAndrews

Student Support Student Support ServicesServices

A central unit providing support and A central unit providing support and advice to students across a number of advice to students across a number of areas :areas :– Personal and emotionalPersonal and emotional– Mental health and wellbeingMental health and wellbeing– Disability SupportDisability Support– International adviceInternational advice– Academic adviceAcademic advice– Financial advice and grantsFinancial advice and grants– Fresher’s/Orientation WeekFresher’s/Orientation Week

Peer Support at St Peer Support at St AndrewsAndrews

““Supnet”- Support Supnet”- Support NetworkNetwork

DevelopmeDevelopmentnt

Started in 1994Started in 1994 Originally as an aid to the Originally as an aid to the

departmentdepartment Started off with a few peer Started off with a few peer

supporters and grew to 10 quicklysupporters and grew to 10 quickly Developed and funded by an external Developed and funded by an external

trust - dedicated staff membertrust - dedicated staff member Increased to approx 30 peer Increased to approx 30 peer

supporterssupporters

Main areas of workMain areas of work

Providing one-to-one support – Providing one-to-one support – befriending, buddying, mentoring - to befriending, buddying, mentoring - to students requiring help or assistance students requiring help or assistance

Facilitating or assisting with student Facilitating or assisting with student self-help networks and groups,self-help networks and groups,

Assisting with student orientation, Assisting with student orientation, awareness-raising, delivering awareness-raising, delivering workshops or facilitating events,workshops or facilitating events,

Assisting with office and administrative Assisting with office and administrative tasks where additional help is requiredtasks where additional help is required

Current set Current set upup

Currently 18 volunteersCurrently 18 volunteers 2 recruitment drives a year2 recruitment drives a year Managed by one member of staff Managed by one member of staff

as part of her jobas part of her job Fortnightly training programmeFortnightly training programme Supervised by staff of Student Supervised by staff of Student

Support who refer the students to Support who refer the students to the peer supporterthe peer supporter

One to One peer One to One peer supportsupport

Total of 450 hours given this Total of 450 hours given this year – 25 hours by each studentyear – 25 hours by each student

Referral by coordinator / other Referral by coordinator / other staff in Student Support Servicesstaff in Student Support Services

Student manages the referral-Student manages the referral-open endedopen ended

Examples of Examples of supportsupport

Working with students who self-Working with students who self-harm, have suicidal thoughts, harm, have suicidal thoughts, depressiondepression

Social anxietySocial anxiety Transition to UniversityTransition to University Students with disabilitiesStudents with disabilities Vulnerable or aloneVulnerable or alone Trauma or lossTrauma or loss

Freshers / OrientationFreshers / Orientation

Seen as vital – each student gave Seen as vital – each student gave 25 hours each in that week 25 hours each in that week • Airport welcomeAirport welcome• Lead in specific eventsLead in specific events• General organisationGeneral organisation

Awareness events Awareness events 2009/102009/10

Eating disorders weekEating disorders week No Smoking dayNo Smoking day Give bloodGive blood Depression awarenessDepression awareness Sexual healthSexual health

Lessons learnedLessons learned

RecruitmentRecruitment Clarity of expectationsClarity of expectations Supporting volunteersSupporting volunteers TrainingTraining CoordinationCoordination Team buildingTeam building

RecruitmentRecruitment

Profile/PerceptionsProfile/Perceptions Clarity of role and skills requiredClarity of role and skills required Reflect the student profile - eg Reflect the student profile - eg

PG, InternationalPG, International Students who have experienced Students who have experienced

Supnet themselves can be Supnet themselves can be valuable recruitsvaluable recruits

Clarity of expectationsClarity of expectations

What we expect from the What we expect from the volunteersvolunteers

What they can expect from usWhat they can expect from us

Aided by:Aided by:• Role descriptionRole description• ContractContract• MonitoringMonitoring• Training programme in advanceTraining programme in advance

Supporting Supporting volunteersvolunteers

Providing appropriate supervisionProviding appropriate supervision Ensuring they feel comfortable Ensuring they feel comfortable

about seeking support for about seeking support for themselvesthemselves

Valuing their workValuing their work Team - can support themselvesTeam - can support themselves Value of feedbackValue of feedback Social eventsSocial events

TrainingTraining

Set programme in advanceSet programme in advance Use staff in your service - aids Use staff in your service - aids

team buildingteam building Shared training with staffShared training with staff Using them to train/help other staff Using them to train/help other staff

in Universityin University Using them to provide induction for Using them to provide induction for

new supnettersnew supnetters

Training Training subjectssubjects

Fife Self Harm Early ResponseFife Self Harm Early Response Fife Rape and Sexual Abuse CentreFife Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Social PhobiasSocial Phobias Dealing with TraumaDealing with Trauma Student ServicesStudent Services Active Listening SkillsActive Listening Skills Depression Depression Disabilities (in particular Asperger’s Disabilities (in particular Asperger’s

Syndrome)Syndrome) Team BuildingTeam Building Eating DisordersEating Disorders

CoordinatioCoordinationn

One staff point of contact for One staff point of contact for coordinationcoordination

Use their organisational skills – aids Use their organisational skills – aids personal developmentpersonal development

Staff need clear information on how to Staff need clear information on how to use the peer supportersuse the peer supporters

Communication- let students develop Communication- let students develop their waystheir ways

Advertising/publicityAdvertising/publicity

Team BuildingTeam Building

Group of peer supporters need to Group of peer supporters need to be a teambe a team

The peer supporters need to be The peer supporters need to be part of the bigger team – Student part of the bigger team – Student Support ServicesSupport Services

RealisticRealistic

Numbers - use them or lose themNumbers - use them or lose them Try out things but review and Try out things but review and

reject - not necessarily failurereject - not necessarily failure Don’t take on projects that you Don’t take on projects that you

will not be able to realisewill not be able to realise Accept that things will change Accept that things will change

and developand develop

Benefits to the Benefits to the UniversityUniversity

Shows we are a community and Shows we are a community and care and value all members of that care and value all members of that communitycommunity

Positive aspect of Student Positive aspect of Student ExperienceExperience

Keeping in touch with student Keeping in touch with student populationpopulation

Practical - need extra pairs of handsPractical - need extra pairs of hands

Benefits to studentsBenefits to students

Unique - different to professional Unique - different to professional supportsupport

A community that cares - a sense A community that cares - a sense of belongingof belonging

Make friendsMake friends Practical helpPractical help More contact timeMore contact time

Benefits to the Peer Benefits to the Peer SupporterSupporter

Learn new skillsLearn new skills Personal and career developmentPersonal and career development Gain different kinds of experiencesGain different kinds of experiences Be a part of a team and a Be a part of a team and a

communitycommunity Gain credit - St Andrews AwardGain credit - St Andrews Award Other opportunities in UniversityOther opportunities in University Personal fulfilmentPersonal fulfilment

““If you want to lift If you want to lift yourself up, lift yourself up, lift someone else up”someone else up”

- Booker T - Booker T WashingtonWashington