So, you’ve been wanting to come to our peer support sessions, but you’re just not sure. Maybe the thought is daunting, and if I’m honest, that makes sense. It’s a new environment with new people, and for many that can be overwhelming. In this blog, I’m going to take you through what to expect.
I’m Allie, and when I first started at The Girls Club, I mainly focused on The Dry Ish Girls Club (a fab sub-group) and also our Tuesday peer support session in Ashton. We have new facilitators for Ashton now, and you’ll hear from them shortly. Let’s run through what it’s like, step by step, when you arrive at one of our sessions.
Straight away you’ll be greeted by one of our lovely facilitators, who will show you the room and introduce themselves. You’ll then be offered a brew and some biscuits (I mean, I’m already sold) and you can pick a place to sit. All of our rooms are private, welcoming, and warm. Any ladies that are already there will introduce themselves. We truly are a friendly bunch!
Once everyone has sat down with a brew and as many biscuits as they’d like, our facilitators will run through some guidelines (we ask for complete confidentiality, no graphic content etc) and then the chatting begins. You are under no pressure to talk, if you come to some sessions just to listen until you are ready, that’s absolutely fine. Everyone is given a chance to talk if they wish.
Here’s a quote from Clare, one of our Ashton facilitators, “At our peer support sessions we talk about anything and everything. Sometimes it could be somebody needing to get something off their chest. Other times it could be talking about something totally random. It’s whatever the ladies need.”
If you’re lucky enough to get me talking about our peer support sessions, the main thing I’ll tell you is how proud I am of them. All of our facilitators are trained to provide you with a safe, secure place to talk, whilst also making sure that these sessions feel like you’re just having a chat with friends. Although we aren’t trained counsellors and this is not therapy, the good that I have personally seen, and the positive changes to the women that attend, can’t be ignored.
Fran, who facilitates our Leigh session, says “Everyone who comes to the sessions in Leigh has a different story to tell and has had different life experiences. We listen, encourage, and support each other. No judgement is given, we empower each other to face their issues with support.”
So now let’s talk about age-range. All our sessions are 18+ due to the sensitive nature of some of the tops discussed, but there is no set age. You might think that our name means that we are just for younger women, but you’d be wrong. We have women of all ages attend our sessions (and events!) with women even in their 70’s and 80’s that have popped along for a brew and a chat. That’s because needing somewhere to talk, needing connection with other women, that doesn’t just stop at a certain age.
Sue facilitates our Hindley session, “Some people come because they need support. Some come because they want connection. Some come because it’s the only hour in their week where they don’t feel like they have to hold it all together. Whatever your reason, you’re welcome.”
Peer support is important for many reasons, but for us, it bridges the gap between isolation and connection. You may not always need to attend our sessions, or maybe you see it and think it’s not something you’d need. The point is, it’s here. We are here. We also have 1:1 peer support available to book through Joshua Tree Coaching. Contact us through the contact page and we can send you over the link for booking.
Remember, every single woman that attends our sessions had to show up for that first time. Everyone was once new but now they go every single week, and have made friends and connections that even go beyond the sessions themselves.
To finish, a final quote from Sarah, who also facilitates Ashton, “Join us for a brew, a biscuit, and a friendly chat in a safe, supportive, and confidential space for women.
Together, we’ll explore ways to support our mental well-being, encourage one another through life’s challenges, and discover that we’re not alone in our struggles. Whether you’d like to talk, listen, or simply enjoy being around others who understand, you’ll always be warmly welcomed.”
Ladies, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Allie x