Bridging the Gap changed my life |
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| Tuesday, 20 September 2011 |
If any person doubts the life-changing power of human connection, a recent volunteer-based peer support pilot service at Health in Mind eloquently and assuredly counters doubt with fact: “Bridging the Gap changed my life.”  Funded for 14 months by Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS), Bridging the Gap linked 23 volunteers with experience of mental health difficulties with individuals (peers) who were seeking tools for more effective self-care: from exploring ways to access support, information and services, to discussing the fundamentals of WRAP and building skills to better manage their mental health and well being. Matched on a one-to-one basis for four months, volunteers supported peers to explore their own unique journey of self-care. For volunteers, Bridging the Gap offered people the space to further validate their own experiences and to recognise the innate worth therein. As one volunteer stated: “Being part of this project has brought meaning and purpose to my life more than any other job I've ever had.” For peers, the service offered the same space alongside learning opportunities such as self-care techniques or better access to services. One peer said: “I feel that [my volunteer] is most capable of giving examples of coping. She is further on in her recovery, which is very encouraging, and it’s helping me to look differently at recovery.” Peers noted the significance of being supported by someone whose understanding of them was rooted in personal experience, who not only volunteered their time but was outwith the medical profession, who understood irrelevance of ‘one size fits all’, and who deeply believed in essentiality of self-care. The interest in and success of Bridging the Gap highlights a previously missed opportunity for people wanting to volunteer: to use their lived experience in a positive way; to build confidence and self-esteem; to gain experience of working in the field of mental health; to offer others the kind of support they wish they had once received; to partake in an activity which supports personal motivation and fosters purpose. Volunteers spoke about the importance of volunteering rather than being paid for their role, and the difference this made to their interactions with peers; although many hope their future involves similar paid employment, volunteering filled an important space and time in their lives. Volunteers received six days of WRAP and Peer Support Training, had regular group supervision and support, contributed to numerous training events and seminars, created various artistic projects including visual and film, and at their final Moving On conference facilitated workshops about their experiences as peer support volunteers. The legacy of Bridging the Gap filters through and beyond Health in Mind. Five volunteers have been trained as WRAP facilitators and many are volunteering in other capacities. Peers from the service continue to enquire about WRAP courses or access to other services, and some have started volunteering with Health in Mind. But more broadly, the service is a testament to human beings’ ability to accept that sometimes other peoples’ experiences are more ideally suited to supporting people than our own. Bridging the Gap has applied for additional one year funding from LTCAS but whatever the future holds, the service is a lasting testament to the use of human experience as a tool for change. Read a copy of Health in Mind's report of Bridging the Gap. For more information about the project contact Lynn Law at Health in Mind on 0131 225 8508 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . SRN advertise a range of events and resources developed by external organisations. In doing so we do not necessarily endorse or recommend them and we are in no way responsible for content or quality. Comments (0)
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