Peer Support

This service is about giving carers the chance to meet and make friends with other carers, providing each other with mutual support and understanding. We appreciate how difficult it can be to meet new people and make new friends; our staff are experts at keeping gatherings informal and relaxed and will support you in getting to know some of the other carers in your area.

How can it help me?

  • Making friends and acquaintances with other carers has been shown to improve the wellbeing of carers
  • We understand that carers can feel isolated and having links to other carers for mutual support can help to alleviate this
  • It is often easier to cope when you know others who are in a similar situation
  • Friends with caring responsibilities understand better than most the restrictions that being a carer can place on you and your ability to keep a social schedule
  • New friendships with carers can increase your sense of connection to the local community as you get to know people locally

What type of groups could I join?

We hold our Peer Support Groups in are held online via Zoom and face-to-face in locations across Devon. The themes for our groups are varied and include:

  • Games Night
  • Autism group (with or without a formal diagnosis)
  • Caring for someone with Dementia
  • Craft Group
  • Wellbeing & Hobbies
  • Caring for someone with Mental Ill-health
  • Male Carers
  • LGBTQ+ group
  • Caring for a parent with Dementia
  • Music night
  • Neurodivergent carers
  • Open group for all carers
  • Caring for someone with neurological conditions

We also run short term events and projects in partnership with the National Trust, such as a craft group at A la Ronde and apple picking & pressing at Killerton. We also run Christmas projects such as wreath making and Christmas tree decorations.

If you have any ideas for new groups you would like to suggest please contact us!

If you feel that you would benefit from Peer Support, we would love to hear from you.

If you are already registered with us, please email peer.support@devoncarers.org.uk to request to participate in a group.

If you are not registered, please contact us via email info@devoncarers.org.uk, on webchat by clicking on the ‘ask’ button on our website or phone our helpline 03456 434 435 to discuss getting involved.

You can also mention it to your Carers Support Officer when you have a carers assessment or a review.