The Peer Mentor Service is for those who are currently engaging with one of the existing Whitechapel Centre services and have experienced some level of homelessness, whether it be rough sleeping or experiencing the difficulties around asylum and moving to a new country and anything else in between.
A Peer Mentor can inspire and motivate the service user because they have had similar experiences. Someone struggling with alcohol or drugs may feel they will never get over it. By meeting with someone who has been through an experience similar to theirs they find it more believable that the can make progress towards recovery, that it is possible.
Our Peer Mentors undertake accredited training and are provided with regular supervision and support. They are trained to empower service users using a person-centred approach. As well as the training they have received, Peer Mentors will use their experience to listen to service users and help them to explore options and make their own decisions.
A peer mentor can help increase the service user’s sense of confidence and well-being, support them to become more independent and increase recovery.