PME - Peer Mentoring Services

“The Peer Mentoring Programme provides voluntary, non-clinical support to help adults with substance dependency overcome barriers, achieve greater personal stability and progress towards employment, training or other work-related activity, while engaging with appropriate recovery and wider support services. People with substance dependency often face multiple and complex disadvantages, including poor physical and mental health, unemployment, housing insecurity and disengagement from statutory services. Without tailored, trusted support, these barriers can make it difficult to access treatment, sustain recovery and make progress. Through this grant, Central London Forward (CLF), as the Accountable Body, is funded to deliver peer mentoring in areas with the highest levels of substance misuse-related need. This involves embedding lived-experience support within local systems and strengthening joint working with treatment providers, employment services and voluntary and community sector organisations. The Peer Mentoring Grant supports the Government’s priority to improve outcomes for people affected by drug and alcohol misuse by strengthening the links between treatment, personal stability and progression towards work. Sustained recovery is closely linked to trusted relationships, reduced stigma and practical support that helps individuals rebuild confidence and stability. Peer mentoring draws on lived experience to build trust, improve engagement with services and support people to take positive steps towards employment, education and wider participation in society. The grant enables local areas to embed peer mentoring within a whole-system, place-based approach to recovery, supporting better health outcomes and reducing longer-term harm. The overarching objective of the Peer Mentoring Grant is to improve outcomes for adults with drug and alcohol dependency by embedding lived-experience peer mentoring within local systems. Funded activity is expected to:

• Build trust and support participants to disclose their drug and alcohol dependency, related barriers and support needs safely and voluntarily to peer mentors and relevant services;

• Improve participants’ understanding of, and engagement with, appropriate treatment, recovery and wider support services;

• Improve participants’ readiness to progress towards employment, training or other positive activity by building confidence, motivation and employability skills; and

• Strengthen collaboration between local partners already supporting people with substance dependency across our boroughs.”