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What is The Torbay Peer Listening Project?
The Torbay Peer Listening Project is a select group of year 10 students from three secondary schools in Torbay. The project uses social norms theory to underpin the work and training. The Peer Listeners have received training by experienced workers from both Checkpoint and Torbay Council to provide support to their peers on issues such as sexual health, self-harm, family breakdown and drugs and alcohol. The Peer Listeners offer support and signposting to their peers individually, as well as specific campaigns such as ‘being you’ which focuses on self-esteem and confidence across the whole school.
Peer Listener’s values are:
- We accept everyone for who they are.
- We believe it is important to be true to yourself.
- We believe that everyone deserves the chance to voice their opinions and be listened to.
- We believe it is important to stand up for what you believe in.
- We believe in being who you want to be, not what others want to see.
Who are the Peer Listeners?
If you would like some advice or need support you can talk to a Peer Listener in your school.
- Westland’s School – Tazmin Reynolds, Laura Cullen and Tasha Brotheridge
- St. Cuthbert Mayne – Rikki Cain, Theresa Norwood, Gina Hunt, Demy Green and Joe Kerbyson.
- Brixham Community College - Reece Edwards, Tegan Evans, Dan Haynes, Katie Harper, Hannah Shipley
What are social norms?
Social norms mean how we behave in social groups. For example, we shake hands when we meet, use a knife and fork when we eat and give gifts to each other on our birthdays. In other words, we all behave in certain ways that are expected of us in our social groups. This will change depending on which country we live in or which group we belong to.
However, sometimes we can misunderstand these behaviours. For example, we may believe that our friends drink more alcohol than they really do, or be having sex when they’re not.
These misperceptions have become the basis of an increasingly popular and widely used technique called the social norms approach and social norms marketing. This approach seeks to correct such misperceptions by providing information on how people are truly behaving.
The Peer Listeners have written an insert in the Herald Express on sexual health issues for young people which featured earlier this year. The full article is available in the Related Documents.
Information, advice and guidance
If you would like to know more information about the issues the Peer Listeners can support you with please follow the links.
- National Self Harm Network
– advice and support for Self Harm - Sexwize – information about Torbay sexual health services
- TheSite.org – information, advice and guidance about life
- Talk to Frank – information and advice about drugs and alcohol
- Brook – information and advice and sex and relationships
Related Documents
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Peer Herald
Insert for the Herald Express written by the Peer Listeners about sexual health issues for young people.
Last updated: 16/09/2011, 8:59am (2.6 MB)
Related Websites
Contact Peer Listening
- Tel: 07917 587941
- Email: TPLproject@torbay.gov.uk
- Fax:
