Peer Mentor (Volunteer)

At The Wise Group, we believe everyone has the power to shape their own future. Our pathways to employment are designed to help people take charge of their journey—offering the tools, opportunities, and encouragement needed to thrive.

What makes our approach unique is that it’s built by people with lived experience. Those who have walked similar paths guide and inspire others, and as more people join us, the programme continues to grow and evolve.

We create a safe, supportive, and compassionate space where individuals can rebuild confidence, develop resilience, and discover new possibilities.
Our goal is to unlock ambition—helping people not only achieve their own success, but also use their experience to inspire others, influence systems, and shape the services of the future.

Our peer mentors are trained to the same level as colleagues working on the contracts they support. Every journey is person-centred and shaped around an individual’s skills, experience, and ambitions. With the right tools, resources, equipment, and support, mentors are empowered to pave their own way toward personal and professional growth.

Every colleague who joins the programme takes part in a structured 12-week training and onboarding process, during which they complete an accredited Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification (or equivalent). Alongside this, they also undertake contract-specific training in areas such as:

• ICT systems
• Health and Safety
• Lone Working
• Safeguarding
• Reporting and Recording
• Domestic Abuse
• Challenging Behaviour …and much more.

Programme Benefits

• Building confidence and resilience
• Paid healthcare plans with UK Health
• Gaining up-to-date work experience in service design, implementation, and frontline support
• Potential to achieve Level 2/3 qualifications in:
  • Health and Social Care
  • Trauma-Informed Practices
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
  • Mental Health
  • Recovery

Towards the end of the programme, participants create a move-on plan and receive tailored support with updating CVs, writing cover letters, and applying for future roles.

But don’t just take our word for it—hear it from those who’ve experienced or are experiencing the journey themselves.

Current Peer mentor

‘The Peer Mentor Program was an excellent discovery; it has allowed me to develop new skills and rediscover old ones and rebuild my pathway to employment. I’ve felt valued, supported and have been able to contribute to the development of others in a truly purposeful way.’

CRS Mentor (Ex peer mentor 2022)

‘My experience with the peer mentor model was excellent. It helped me build self-confidence in the workplace and gave me the opportunity to practice essential skills that supported my everyday life. This ultimately led to full-time employment as a mentor with the Wise Group. What I valued most about the peer mentor model was that development was tailored to the individual. You were trusted to take ownership and make a positive impact wherever possible within the model.’

Relational mentor (Ex peer mentor 2023)

‘I began as the first peer mentor volunteer in 2021, starting out as a reserved and unconfident person with significant lived experience of trauma. Over time, I built confidence and resilience by taking on tasks that encouraged me to engage with others and step outside my comfort zone. I developed the tools to value myself and recognise my worth, which gave me the confidence to apply for a colleague position. This experience prepared me for my current role as a relational mentor and equipped me with the skills I need to succeed.’

This isn’t just training—it’s the first step toward a future career.