Peer Mentoring Program
The power of lived experience
Mentors who were once clients
Peer mentor group
Our peer mentors are clients who use their own lived and processed life experiences as a resource to support others. Peer support is available to those moving from shacks into homes, to our refugee clients, and since 2025 also to tenants in our Social Rental Agency program.
Our experience shows that combining social work with peer mentoring allows us to provide more comprehensive support to our clients. Peer mentors represent an important new social connection for people who have been pushed to the margins of society.
Our mentor program celebrated its third anniversary in autumn 2025. During this time, we have gained extensive experience, learned a great deal together with our mentors, and we also provide them with regular training.
Regular presence, personalised support
Comprehensive mentoring
Mentors maintain weekly contact with their mentees, either by phone or through in-person meetings. They typically provide support in the following areas:
- supportive conversations
- providing information
- job searching
- access to healthcare, education, and other services
- administrative assistance and interpretation
- navigating the city
- accessing donations
- advocacy
- leisure activities
Lived experience driving change
Experiential expertise
In addition to individual mentoring, experiential expertise also plays a key role in our work. Our peer mentors take part in our moving-in and women’s groups, and represent the Association as experiential experts at external events. We are regularly invited to higher education institutions, professional events, and conferences. In 2025, we received significant professional recognition when our program was shortlisted for the SozialMarie Social Innovation Award.
