Peer Connect

Managing Challenges

Easy English Home
4 people gathered around having a peer group meeting

Problems can happen in a peer support group. 

This resource gives you ideas about what you can do. 

Choose the ideas that work for your group.

Woman with black hair talking

If one person talks much more than other people. 

You can

  • remind everyone to take turns
  • ask if someone else wants to talk
  • talk to the person privately if it keeps happening
Drawing of a piece of paper with 3 clocks to the left. There is a squiggle next to each clock to indicate people can speak for a set amount of time.

If this happens often, remind everyone about taking turns at the start of the meeting.

Two men talking at the same time, one is a wheelchair user.

When people interrupt each other

Stop the conversation for a moment. 

Remind everyone about the group rules. 

You can 

  • ask people to take turns
  • choose an order for people to speak
  • use an object to show whose turn it is
Drawing of a piece of paper with a tick box list on it

Talk about the group rules. 

Do not blame one person.

4 people gathered in peer group meeting

If people in the group disagree a lot 

You can 

  • stay calm
  • say that people have different views
  • remind everyone to speak respectfully
  • pause the conversation if you need to
Woman scared

A strong disagreement does not have to make the group unsafe

If a group member becomes upset

Check if the person is okay. 

You can 

  • offer them a break
  • ask if they want to talk privately
  • tell them about support they can contact
Woman in a blue shirt with her hand held up to her ear listening

Do not make the person keep talking.

Man at desk with young woman

If fewer people come to the meeting

Ask group members what they want from the group. 

You can 

  • change the meeting time
  • change how the group meets
  • change the topics
  • tell more people about the group
Drawing of 3 people helping each other to move boxes

If a main group organiser leaves. 

Sometimes people leave the group and that's ok.

You can 

  • share the work with other people
  • make the jobs simpler
  • ask people to take on small jobs
  • share important jobs between more than one person

Sharing jobs can help one person doing too much

3 people at a meeting. A lady is reading from a piece of paper. She is running the group.

If the group is ready to end

Talk about this with group members. 

You can 

  • talk about what the group has achieved
  • decide if the group will continue
  • decide if the group will change
  • decide if the group will end
Two people wearing party hats and holding drinks celebrating

Sometimes ending a group can be a good choice

Secret Link