Project case study - Ellesmere Port Specialist School of Performing Arts

The idea originated when the school introduced an anti-bullying project, which grouped together six pupils to work out their anger issues. During this project, disclosures were made from some pupils about self harming. The school decided there was a need to empower the pupils to accept and understand their destructive behaviour.

The view was taken that the best way to do this would be to equip school students with the skills to support each other effectively and the decision was made to develop peer mentors. "We recognised the biggest influence on the young people - and the decisions they made - were their peers. Who better than to offer support are the peer mentors, who can share their own experiences and guide others to make positive choices in their lives" says Karen Case, Learning Mentor/Counsellor.

One mentee says: "Having a peer mentor is really good for me. I can tell her everything going on for me. This helps me cope better and not hurt myself."

This endorsement of the scheme backs up the findings of this year’s National Inquiry into self harm among young people, which makes it clear that what a lot of self harmers want is someone who will respect and listen to them, not specifically about self harm but about other problems and issues in their lives.

It is important to recognise that this scheme is not an alternative to professional mentoring/counselling, but is an important intervention in its own right.

Training for mentors involves active listening, positive communication skills and raising self-esteem. Pupils are also taught to understand the boundaries of their mentoring relationships and when to take time out themselves. Following the training, peer mentors are supported with group sessions every four – six weeks, drop in sessions once a week and learning mentors act as supervisors at all times.

"Before this project I was on the road to nowhere," says one year 12 mentor. "Now after training and being a peer mentor I can guide kids through the rough times and hopefully set them on the right track."

The school has always recognised the importance of pupils to be able to trust their peer mentors. Confidentiality is crucial, and is always maintained unless it is felt that there is a real risk of a pupil causing serious personal harm. At EPSSPA a confidentiality contract was formed, which all peer mentors agreed to sign. This contract makes it clear that any information the mentor deems uncomfortable or believes to be a child protection issue, must be passed to the learning mentors immediately.

The three pupils pictured are involved in the Peer Mentoring Scheme which covers a wide range of issues.

• Name - EPSSPA United We Can!
• Project type - Peer mentoring/Anti Bullying
• Location - Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
• Website - www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupHomepage.asp
• Phone - 0151 339 4807
• Project Co-ordinator – Karen Case