Start Your Peer Support Circle |
1. Welcome!
Welcome!
A common misunderstanding is that a support group can be started merely by getting people together because they have a common interest. That mistake is why so many support groups have a great first meeting, but then attendance drops off dramatically.
Peer Support Circles avoid that mistake. They provide time-tested tools to always work from a useful agenda, efficient facilitation, and useful tools to give and get support. Each member is guaranteed to get value in every meeting.
There are three specific steps to start your Circle. They have been done by Circles around the world since 1995. We provide guidelines and tools for each step. They include:
- Plan and register your Circle (using this form)
- Recruit 3-4 more members, in addition to you.
- Prepare members for the ongoing support meetings.
You do not have to do the steps alone. Partner with a friend, family member, co-worker or another who would benefit from ongoing support.
If you gather at least three other people interested in a Circle, then you qualify for our free virtual orientation to facilitating a Circle. We'll walk you through an actual Circle experience and will interactively answer your questions.