The Peer Partnership is looking for Long COVID Peer Support Volunteers
The COVID-19 worldwide pandemic is the defining event of the 2020s. Although for most people who have contracted COVID-19 a full recovery has been possible, around 1 in 5 continue to have symptoms of the illness well beyond the expected recovery time.
Long COVID causes symptoms including excessive fatigue, “brain-fog “, breathlessness, anxiety, and muscle aches, which can considerably impact the ability of those living with them to manage everyday tasks.
In Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire there are estimated to be 18,000 people with Long COVID. With so many people experiencing issues around health and wellbeing with the condition, The Peer Partnership and Sirona are opening a peer support service to help people improve knowledge, confidence and ability to self-manage their condition.
We will be providing Long COVID workshops and group peer support sessions for those living with Long COVID, and we need people living with Long COVID to facilitate these sessions. In this role you will be:
- Co-Facilitating workshops alongside health care professionals, providing people recently diagnosed with Long COVID with information about the condition and helping them to understand how to manage it independently.
- Facilitating group peer support sessions. With training and support, you will provide a welcoming and supportive space for people to share their experiences of living with long COVID, condition management and encourage wellbeing.
What we are looking for?
You do not need to know everything about long COVID it’s your personal experience and enthusiasm to help others in the same situation we value.
If you are…
- Living with Long COVID in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire
- Available for 2 hours a week (various times available including daytime, evenings, and weekends)
- Believe that people can be the experts of their own condition
…we are looking for you to support this program and help people like you feel less isolated and more confident in living with Long COVID.
We will provide:
- Full peer support training
- Professional supervision
- Ongoing development
If you would like to apply for this role, please read through our role description below and complete our volunteer application form. Not sure if this role is for you or would like more information? Contact Hope at 01179555038 or info@peerpartnership.org.
Applications will close for this round of recruitment on Wednesday, 12th January 2022.
About The Peer Partnership
The Peer Partnership’s aim is to promote the welfare and wellbeing of people living with long-term physical or mental health conditions and/or protected characteristics in Bristol and the surrounding areas. Through its parent organisation, Brigstowe, The Peer Partnership has a long history of service user involvement and has developed a wide range of peer support services including peer mentoring; recently diagnosed groups; social events and skills workshops.
